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Post by Prince Geralt Gardener on Aug 9, 2017 23:18:00 GMT
Where combatants train in preparation for the upcoming tourney.
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Post by Prince Geralt Gardener on Aug 9, 2017 23:19:48 GMT
Early one morning before the tourney, Prince Geralt arrives at the yard to get a few training bouts in, clad in padded armor with blunted sword and unadorned shield in hand. He extends an invitation for Ser Garrett Costayne to join him.
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Post by The Forgotten God on Aug 10, 2017 0:41:33 GMT
Garrett Costayne, Master of the Green Hand, the Fist of Three Towers, enters the yard. He is a tall and strong man in his later thirties, handsome, chivalrous, the envy of many a fair maiden even as his youth passes. He raises his sword in salute. "It's been a while," he said, shrugging on a hauberk. "Are you ready to grind these...men beneath our hooves in the tourney?"
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Post by Prince Geralt Gardener on Aug 10, 2017 0:57:20 GMT
"Too long, my friend," Geralt said, in turn saluting the man who had awarded him his spurs, presided over his vigil, and welcomed him into the Green Hand. "Indeed, I suspect the Ironborn added some of these ridiculous events just so Reachmen would not stand alone in the winner's circle."
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Post by The Forgotten God on Aug 10, 2017 1:10:33 GMT
The master knight laughed. "Nothing is as petty as a raider facing real men," he agreed. He raised his sword over his head in the falcon stance, no shield. "I do hope you haven't grown rusty from the city life," he jested.
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Post by Prince Geralt Gardener on Aug 10, 2017 1:19:50 GMT
"Hardly, if anything I spend more time in the yard than I did at Highgarden." He tossed his shield aside as well and adopted a roof guard, the most apt for defending again falcon's overhead blows. "Someone had to get the Hightower knights up to standard. I may have a few worthy of the Green Hand within the year. Though, I would be lying if I said I did no miss the road."
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Post by The Forgotten God on Aug 10, 2017 1:32:02 GMT
Garrett swings from the attack slowly, this is a warmup. "Long ride," he said. "If you've been bored, whenthis is over I could use you. There's some strangeness going on along the borders southeast of Oldtown, near three towers and Starfall. Sounds like raiders or bandits, but unusually vicious ones."
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Post by Prince Geralt Gardener on Aug 10, 2017 1:43:37 GMT
"Count me there." He deflected the blow to the left and lowered into ox, stepping forward to lunge with the point of the blunted blade. "As both Oldtown business and business of the Green Hand, doubly so."
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Post by The Forgotten God on Aug 10, 2017 1:51:35 GMT
Garrett sidestepped and held his sword out to indicate a halt. "I thought you might be interested. We're going to need ships, too," he added. "I expect this to be quite an endeavor." He took a more aggressive stance now. "The road is worn off me now,@ he said. "On your guard!"
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Post by Naomi Harlaw on Aug 10, 2017 2:20:05 GMT
Her axes were on either side of her hips, hanging from her belt. She leaned on the fence watching the Greenlander men swing their swords at each other. They were dressed with padding over their limbs. "Where's the fun in that",she asked herself.
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Post by Prince Geralt Gardener on Aug 10, 2017 2:59:03 GMT
"I'll see if my wife would be willing to donate some to the effort," dropping to the low fool stance in an effort to tempt his former mentor into overcompensating on an attack. "As they are her lands threatened, I don't see why she would protest. These bandits have ships then?" Her axes were on either side of her hips, hanging from her belt. She leaned on the fence watching the Greenlander men swing their swords at each other. They were dressed with padding over their limbs. "Where's the fun in that",she asked herself. At the sight of the reaver captain watching them, Geralt halted the conversation for a later time, not seeing it as particularly prudent to discuss strategies of bandit hunting in front of one. When he and Garrett took a breather, he made his way over to Naomi. "You again," he said in greeting, wiping the sweat from his brow. "Captain Harlaw, was it? I half-expected you to still be on the floor of that tavern considering your state when we parted ways." |
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Post by Naomi Harlaw on Aug 10, 2017 3:11:03 GMT
"Awww and here I thought you missed me", Naomi grins, "unfortunately still conscious am I...." She had a pear from the ship, taking a bite she continued her conversation,
"..standing here watching you Greenlanders dance around in cloth padded armor. Very strange to me eyes."
"Here I thought I would get a showing from the fight pits, but to my disappointment only conversation with you two touching swords."
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Post by Prince Geralt Gardener on Aug 10, 2017 3:30:03 GMT
"Miss you? I hardly know you," he replied, taking a drink of water and then pouring some over his sweat-damp hair. "Better padded armor and blunted blades to pears and wandering eyes," he added, with a pointed look at her fruit. "At least some of us came to fight, not that I'd trust an Ironborn to know what a proper fight looks like."
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Post by Naomi Harlaw on Aug 10, 2017 11:26:33 GMT
"Now you've wounded me, right here", she put a hand over heart. "Thought you lot were supposed to be gentlemen?" Studying the knight, playfully offering him the pear then taking it back. "And no fight is really fair. How you win is how you win."
"You find out their weakness or strength and you exploit it", she casually entered the yard," From what I saw you two were practicing", Naomi scrunched up her face, whisperng, "and making little deals. That wasn't a fight."
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Post by Prince Geralt Gardener on Aug 10, 2017 12:48:55 GMT
"To a lady, a knight of the reach is a model of chivalric virtue," Geralt informed her, matter of factly. "However, you informed me at the tavern in so uncertain words that you are never a lady."
"You saw correctly. Silly me, for assuming the practice yard is a place for practice and not an arena for duels to the death," he continued dryly, leaning in to make out the reaver's whispers. "I had not known we had such a bloodthirsty audience."
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Post by Naomi Harlaw on Aug 10, 2017 16:17:43 GMT
"Ay, no lady here", she grinned, "and you're problem as a Greenlander, you all practice with people that maybe your enemy one day."
"I don't want you knowing my way of fighting, so you can use it to your advantage. When I fight, it'll be for real, not dressed as a ragdoll."
Chuckling to herself, "I'm not bloodthirsty, not now... I've already had my fill for the day, matter of factly. I was just curious and wanted to eavesdrop a bit."
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Post by Prince Geralt Gardener on Aug 10, 2017 17:03:38 GMT
"Well when a greenlander takes the melee and you reavers wonder why, at least you'll know the answer is practice," he returned her grin, part of the fun of such tourneys the friendly competition between kingdoms. The alternative was war. "You any good with those axes or are they just for show?"
"The sun is barely up and you've already drawn blood?" he asked, incredulous.
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Post by Naomi Harlaw on Aug 10, 2017 18:06:55 GMT
"You people and your little contests. Real Reavers don't care about that", pointing at the practice circle, "The only reason this farse is happening at all, is because I guess the King wants to make friends or figure out who is worth his time."
Naomi placed a hand on her axe,"I wouldn't be wearing them, if I wasn't", she grinned back, "But you'll never know unless we're in a real fight."
His question brought a creepy little smile to her face, but she didn't answer.
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Post by Prince Geralt Gardener on Aug 11, 2017 1:06:33 GMT
"Well at least we can agree it is a farce," he replied, finding her frankness refreshing. "You can put rouge on a pig but that doesn't make it a lady. Likewise, feigning a few basic customs of civilized lands does not make an Ironborn noble."
"Then I guess I will never know," he concluded. "We don't fight women in the Reach. Or children for that matter. We leave that to the reavers."
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Post by Naomi Harlaw on Aug 11, 2017 1:22:20 GMT
"You wound me again. I am a Reaver but",she looked at him,"I don't kill children, that is my one rule."
"And you also mistake me, I am not raised Westerosi. My father was yes, but my home is the sea. What this king does is not my concern, it does not benefit me or mine. I am only here for one purpose",she frowned,"After that is done I can leave and all this would not change my life any..."
"Although",Then Naomi thought a moment,"I might just miss that ale I drank."
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Post by Prince Geralt Gardener on Aug 11, 2017 1:28:16 GMT
"You are a credit to your kingdom," he drolled, as Naomi touted her refusal to murder children, as if it were some great virtue.
'And what, pray tell, is that purpose?" he inquired.
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Post by Naomi Harlaw on Aug 11, 2017 1:38:12 GMT
His tone, his berating pompous tone. Too bad making him bleed would start a war or worse get her dead. It'd be a damn good fight though. "Thank you",she retorted dryly. "My purpose is to retrieve something that once belonged to my family."
"Anymore than that is not your business, I'm afraid."
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Post by Prince Geralt Gardener on Aug 11, 2017 1:40:25 GMT
"It is my experience that one rarely broaches a topic they do not wish to speak on," he remarked, with a cocksure grin. "But keep your secret. Retrieving a family heirloom is a worthwhile noble quest. I wish you well on it."
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Post by Naomi Harlaw on Aug 11, 2017 1:49:18 GMT
"I spoke on it as far as I cared to. A Greenlander like you would not understand, it's a Reaver thing", she grinned. "Thank you again."
"So what else is there to do at a tourney besides watch ragdoll practice?"
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Post by Prince Geralt Gardener on Aug 11, 2017 1:57:24 GMT
"Drink and socialize," Geralt replied, not pressing further Naomi regarding her quest, returning the grin. "It seems you have done your fair share of the former already and I doubt the latter is your forte."
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Post by Naomi Harlaw on Aug 11, 2017 2:07:08 GMT
"Do you ever get tired of making comments like that",she asked,"Like I am beneath you because you wear fancy armor and live in a castle." Shaking her head slowly, staring at him with a grin. "You're the supposed gentleman, but who's acting like a horse's ass?"
"Aww, is it because I'm a big, bad Reaver? Get over yourself.. You must drive your wife mad?"
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Post by Prince Geralt Gardener on Aug 11, 2017 2:25:36 GMT
"I just simply thought you big bad reavers had thicker skin, and could stand a barb or two," he remarked, tone carrying a hint of challenge.
"And you have no idea," he said, with a chuckle at the remark about his wife.
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Post by Naomi Harlaw on Aug 11, 2017 2:29:53 GMT
"Oh I can.. I just wanted an answer." Agile as cat, she takes a seat on the fence. "And you gave it to me."
"Poor woman... What is her name, may I ask?"
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Post by Prince Geralt Gardener on Aug 11, 2017 2:44:12 GMT
"Alyssa," he answered, as she hopped up on the fence. "Are you wed? Do women reavers have salt wives, or salt husband?"
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Post by Naomi Harlaw on Aug 11, 2017 2:47:09 GMT
She smiled,"Very pretty name. And I am not wed, not in my plans at the moment. A husband would just get in the way."
"I like my freedom."
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