Dreadlords The Tournament of Turin

[Elspeth Sirl]

"Wonderful," Elspeth managed a slight squeeze of her fingers on his own as their hands pulled apart, her smile warming at the good news, "we ran into some trouble with the cart half a day north of Esston. I worried for our tardiness, but prudent planning got us here right on time it seems."

Let it never be said that Elspeth Sirl arrived late to any appointment. But she was glad to hear he was enjoying his leisure time. Hah! Leisure time, what was that?

"Milady," Cera returned, hand raised to wave the roll of scrolls for attention, "we're all checked in and ready to set up."

Elsi nodded and looked down to Ollie, "I must be moving on to our tent. We should be set up within the hour, if you might stop by I could accompany your wanderings before your first round?"

 

[Wilhelm Anireth]

Food Hall

Such... Power....

It was very rare that the Ring spoke directly to Wil and when it did it was to whisper temptations. This was something completely different and the shock of it for a moment left him speechless. The Prince quickly shook himself.

"Hey, watch yourself there buddy," Wil called, raising his voice just a touch in case the knight who had bumped into him happened to be suffering from the common ringing in the ears that came from being knocked in the jousts. There was no pompous anger or contempt in his words despite the raised level and in fact he seemed to grin. He was certainly far more at ease here than he had been in Vel Anir since his return.

"If you're not feeling great after the tilt, I'm sure there's someone we could ask to get you some food though..." why was the Ring so interested in this man? It's desire left him curious.

 

[Aelita]

Aelita continued to watch the unruly jousting bouts. As she shuffled through the stands, she saw a draw between a Dreadlord from House Umbra and, oddly, a Bursar from Dornoch.

But, Aelita stopped once she saw Guiscard of the West emerged to the list field. She saw an attendant coat the tip of Guiscard’s lance with what appeared to be a red dye.

“Up next is Baylee Haige up against Guiscard of the West!” the announcer proclaimed.

Haige appeared on the other side of the arena. The decorations upon his armor hinted at his noble origins as well.

After the signal, the two jousters charged forth on their horses.

CRACK

Both struck each other squarely in the chest. Guiscard held firm while Haige wavered. A red mark stained Haige’s breastplate. The two exchanged their cracked lances for fresh ones.

Another go followed.

CRACK

The two nobles struck each other once again. Yet, Haige fell off his horse. A second stain appeared on his breastplate – just inches to the side of the previous one.

Spectators excited for Guiscard began to cheer. The noble stopped his horse and turned to Haige. Guiscard quickly dismounted and drew a longsword.

Many jousting tournaments across Arethil would include a sword fight on foot.

Haige got up to a kneeling stance as Guiscard approached. Haige drew his own sword.

Then he planted it to the ground. A typical sign of forfeiture in these matches.

Guiscard was announced as the winner of this fight. And upon witnessing this, Aelita decided to leave the arena.

She headed in the general direction of the betting booths...

 

[Olvir]

Ollie smiled up at Elspeth. "My Lady, If you'll have me I'd be glad to escort you to your tent."

It was rare that they got to spend any real time together. The two of them were so busy with their lives that it seemed almost impossible that they could take a moment alone. So why not seize one when he had the chance.

"I'd even be glad to help you set up." The Noble jested. "Dirty my hands a little."

Otherwise he would just be wandering around by himself some more.

There were a few hours more till his bout, and Ollie decided then and there this was the best way to spend it.

 

[Edric]

Edric, like most Dreadlords, responded to anyone new with no small amount of paranoia and suspicion. For a brief moment his eyes narrowed as Wil gently ribbed him, and then immediately turned around and offered a kindness.

Every possible ulterior motive played through his head.

Had he been recognized? No, that was impossible. The helmet covered his face and he'd not taken that off for the whole day. Certainly not in front of this man. Was this something else? A play at him for being in the bouts? Trying to sabotage him before the last round?

Yes, that had to be it.

"Food?" Edric parroted, his suspicion narrowed down. "Yeah, that actually sounds pretty good."

He would follow this man wherever he would lead, pretend to eat whatever poison he was offered, then deal with the whole thing nice and quietly. "Have a place in mind?"

 

[Colette]

"You were amazing."

The words were spoken earnestly as the dark elf, who was apparently from the grand empire in a foreign land, finished her match. Colette had watched the entire thing transpire with excitement building in her chest. Seeing how accurate the other woman had been in her first two shots, and how confident was as she intentionally whiffed the third, caused the realization to dawn on her.

There was simply no chance she could compete with some of these people.

But, if she had to lose to anyone, "I hope I don't go up against you anytime soon." A quick look at the brackets would've indicated that if the two were to face one another it would be after the qualifiers had ended. There was no doubt that Fire-veen would get that far.

"My name is Colette," she said with a nod and an extended palm, "it's nice to meet you Fire-veen."

There was an explosion of sound at the other end of the arena as the jousting matches were in full swing but both of the women had a moment or two between their next heat at the archery range.

 

[Wilhelm Anireth]

Wil, oblivious, brought a hand up to scratch at his stubble.

"I hadn't settled on anything, yet," the camel had merely been a little snack to wet the appetite. Now he was looking for a good hearty meal and it seemed he had found himself a companion to enjoy it with. Eating and drinking was never as fun alone so he didn't mind it, and it was his fathers coin they'd be spending. He was certain he would tell the accountant it had been spent appropriately on some kind of schmoosing meal.

Yeah, that sounded like something his father couldn't complain about.

"I passed a good hog roast back there, but I was told about some pies in this direction that are meant to be the best this side of the Spine."

 

[Elspeth Sirl]

Truth be told, Elspeth wasn't even sure she'd decline Ollie's company if it meant certain death. Perhaps that was her heart getting a bit carried away with her, but their time together was more than scant and with their future still on rocks, she wanted to take advantage of his good nature for selfish reasons.

"I would be delighted for your company and assistance," Elsi smiled warmly at him, overjoyed to have any opportunity to spend the time together. With Cera leading the way, Elsi enjoyed listening to Olvir recount the bouts from this morning he'd witnessed and fill her in on the few Anirian names she knew to be on the lists. Upon reaching their designated tent marked by the healer's cross, she watched with pride as the flag bearing the Sirl family crest was added to the markers.

It would bring her no small sense of accomplishment if she could turn the horrible blackness associated with their sigil into something that gave people hope and comfort. It was a tall task, but she was taking it one step at a time.

Olvir

 

[Olvir]

After regaling Elspeth with stories of that mornings competitions, Ollie went about helping to set up the medical tent.

Though more difficult in armor, the young Noble helped to unload several boxes of supplies. Stacking crates and listening to the directions of both Cera and his Betrothed until they were finally finished and had nothing but an empty cart.

"Well that seems to b-" Just as he was speaking a man pulled back the tent flap. His face was puffy and red, no small amount of panic decorating his features.

"Help! Help me!" He demanded in all haste. "There was an accident, the joust, Lord Rodrick was caught by the throat!"

Behind him, through the open tent flap, one could see people coming out from the other medical tents. Some clearly looking to help the situation and fetching medics while others simply went to look curiously. In the midst of the throng was a small palisade, upon it a man in regal armor that lucked more cumbersome than Ollie could bare.

A man was standing over the Knight, pressing a hand against his neck and shoulder while desperately shouting for assistance.

Ollie half turned on his heel. ”Elspeth!”

He called to her from across the tent.

 

[Edric]

Edric was still highly suspicious of this man, but he tried to remember what Duncan had told him. "A whole roasted hog sounds good."

He still had one joust lever over, and he figured a bit of meat would probably do him good. As long as he didn't let this stranger poison him anyway.

"Whats your name, stranger?" Edric asked, keeping in mind the lessons he had learned at all those Gala's and Parties the Republic had made him attend. Conveniently forgetting about the one he had been at most recently. "I am Cerin Ildren."

The name, and the city he was from, had been picked by Duncan.

Edric's suggestions had been shot done, something that at the time perturbed him, but Duncan had pointed out that if he chose any place well known then the likelihood of people 'recognizing' him would go up. Eventually Ildren of Orlen had come about.

As Wil answered, the two of them began to walk back towards the Hog that the Prince had mentioned. A delicious meal that was conveniently located right next to the betting parlors. Right where @Aelia was currently heading to.

 

[Wilhelm Anireth]

Wait -- a whole roasted hog? Wil patted his breast pocket where his coins were; yeah, he was sure he had enough for a whole hog and some. If not, he could send someone to get more from his chest.

"Wil," the Prince smiled and clapped the armoured gentleman on the back as they started their meander back towards the hog roast. He deliberately didn't mention his surname. Even as far as this strip of field there were people who could recognise the Royal House names of far off lands. If the other lad really wanted to know he'd press for it.

Or... that initiate would spoil everything.

"Oh, bollocks," Wil muttered when he spied Aelita heading in their direction and quickly segweyed off the main road - such as it was - to one of the narrower streets that wound between stalls. "On second thoughts, what do you think about this thing called Barbeque - very famous in the South."

 

[Fieravene]

You were amazing.

The words were spoken earnestly as the dark elf, who was apparently from the grand empire in a foreign land, finished her match. Colette had watched the entire thing transpire with excitement building in her chest. Seeing how accurate the other woman had been in her first two shots, and how confident was as she intentionally whiffed the third, caused the realization to dawn on her.

There was simply no chance she could compete with some of these people.

But, if she had to lose to anyone, I hope I dont go up against you anytime soon. A quick look at the brackets wouldve indicated that if the two were to face one another it would be after the qualifiers had ended. There was no doubt that Fire-veen would get that far.

My name is Colette, she said with a nod and an extended palm, its nice to meet you Fire-veen.

There was an explosion of sound at the other end of the arena as the jousting matches were in full swing but both of the women had a moment or two between their next heat at the archery range.

"Thank you, dove," the elf's red eyes narrowed above a saccharine smile, wry amusement plying the points of her expression. Such sweet sentiments from the young woman. What good sportsmanship - but did she detect a sense of humble self degradation? All the better; it was but seasoning on a perfectly cooked cut of meat.

Fiera eyed the offered hand and met it with her own gloved in black leather, taking Colette's fingers with a firm grip from which she drew the young woman toward her to plant a kiss on her knuckles, "The pleasure is mine, Miss Colette."

The elf's gaze lingered over the woman's hand for just a moment longer before she released it, "May I forever lament my foreign name in foreign lands. Fieravene," she offered her correction with a small bow of her head, "but you may call me Fi. Tell me, how fares your grand city of Vel Anir? It's been some time since I last...visited."

 

[Aelita]

As Aelita journeyed to the betting parlors, she drew close to the narrow street that “Ildren” and Wil were in.

A hum from her lips drew nearer. A popular tune for marching Anirian armies.

Closer.

And closer.

Until the sound began to fade as Aelita kept moving toward the betting parlor – apparently ignorant of Wil and Ildren!Edric.

Once Aelita made it to the booth, she looked over the odds written upon a board suspended above. The bookie kept going through the different combatants and their odds to win it all – for the illiterate, that is.

Aelita’s eyes first saw Guiscard’s odds. The knight had short odds – one of the most likely according to the bookie to win it all in the joust. Dreadlord Beatrix Umbra had odds closer to even. Then Ildren, a relative unknown, had rather long odds to win it all.

Aelita checked her purse. She then looked back to the odds. Squinted. Enough time passed for several betters to jump in front of her and place their bets on their favorites.

Eventually though, Aelita made her choice and placed a meager bet. Then, she left to find something to drink and maybe eat...

 

[Edric]

Ah there it was.

Of course, come over here to the barbecue where my partner has poisoned the food. It appeared that although the people of Turin honored chivalry above all else, the competitors of this tournament most certainly did not. Edric, for once, was happy he'd listened to a lecture.

Duncan had been right. "Sure."

The rogue Dreadlord said in agreement, turning on his heel alongside Wil. They moved into a smaller alleyway off to the side, his armor clanking.

"So let me ask you, Wil." Edric continued as he placed a hand on the Prince's shoulder. "Who are you working for?"

Might as well get to the bottom of it. His third joust was against a man named Tonwin, and if it had been him who'd hired this welp it would be a simple matter to find out. Duncan had said to keep a low profile, but Edric knew more than breaking fingers.

 

[Colette]

Colette's chin nudged upwards to meet the dark elf's gaze and her demeanor shifted slightly when, instead of a firm handshake, she received a kiss upon her knuckles.

There was something about this elf that she couldn't quite place. Some charm or trait that made the ashen skinned woman stand out from the rest of the crowd. Perhaps it was simply the confidence that seemed to radiant from her. "Oh. I'm sorry, Fieravena, I mean... Fi."

Crap.

She'd gotten her name wrong and made a poor first impression. That was hardly befitting of a champion of the Guard appointed to the Tournament of Turin! No need to dwell on it, she'd just coast by and address the next thing the drow filled with charm stated.

"Vel Anir is," the truth of the matter was the city had been rebuilding after the revolution. But the last time she'd been there it had been, "lovely this time of year. My parents own a little masonry shop not far from the Square." Had this woman truly been to Vel Anir? The city, even today, was rather inhospitable for non-humans but perhaps someone so well-spoken fared just fine.

 

[Wilhelm Anireth]

"Working for?"

Wil had been watching Aelita through the gaps in between the tents as they walked. She didn't seem to have seen them but he couldn't count on that, Dreadlords were tricky. Even the little ones. If she spotted he'd managed to ditch his honour guard, well... The resulting scenario was not one Wil had any intentions of allowing to happen. He'd been so focused on tracking where she went that he hadn't noticed the shift in his new friends manner until the hand came down on his shoulder.

He stared at it then pointedly went to push it off with a frown. The ring on his finger hissed with glee.

"I'm not working for anyone, I'm hiding," he made sure he was out of view by positioning himself behind a tapestry. "Blonde hair, blue eyes, girl placing a bet," he explained.

 

[Aelita]

From Wil’s and Ildren!Edric’s vantage point, they would see approach a heavily armored Anirian Guard that approached her. The Guard wore the rank insignia for a captain and seemed to have experienced a bit of combat – several scars crisscrossed around his face.

The two appeared to converse. Aelita kept a smile upon her face, as always. They stood just a bit too far for their words to be distinguishable to Edric and Wil.

But for the moment, Aelita lingered in the area in this way...

 

[Edric]

Edric shifted, and then very suddenly felt like a fucking moron.

The boy wasn't trying to poison him, in fact, the two of them seemed to be at perfectly parallel purposes. His attention being forcefully turned by Wil towards the young Initiate standing and speaking to a member of the Anirian Guard. "Oh. Fuck."

He declared openly, instantly recognizing Aelita.

She had been one of the Initiates with Alistair and Henk that day. A light manipulator, if he recalled correctly, though she hadn't said much. Lips thinned, and he half turned his body so that the girl would only see the back of his armor. Also conveniently hiding Wil behind him.

"So what are you?" Edric asked. "Anirian criminal?"

It wasn't a stretch for someone to recognize a Guardsmen. Vel Anir was famous world over after all specifically for it's military.

He still felt a fool for thinking the boy was going to try and murder him. More likely he'd just thought Edric an easy mark for pick-pocketing or some other scam. "Or runaway lover?"

 

[Wilhelm Anireth]

Ah, maybe this was the benefit of bodyguards. Wil felt an instant sense of relief when the great hulking knight blocked him entirely from their enemies view. It sounded like he didn't want to be seen by her either. What was that saying? The enemy of my enemy is my...

But how did he know who she was? Wasn't he from some far off land? How would they know about an initiate of the Academy? Oh, his brother, or his father perhaps. Or one of the legendary Dreadlords of the Revolution like Sloan or Talus. But Aelita? Sure, the girl could drink but...

"What?" Wil spluttered at his last suggestion and peaked around Edric. Well... he did like blondes... "No! Sleeping with someone who could gut me in my sleep? No thanks," or cut something else far more precious... "I'm not an anything, I just don't fancy being around Dreadlords. I came here to get away from Aniria."

 

[Aelita]

The captain and Aelita continued to talk in the distance. Eventually, the captain procured a letter from one of his pouches and handed it over to Aelita. He continued to talk to Aelita as she opened the letter and read it with a crumbling smile.

After a few more seconds, Aelita looked back up to the captain and gave him a proper Anirian salute. And with that, the captain walked off – away from where Ildren!Edric and Wil hid.

Turning around, Aelita’s back the two hiding men. They would be able to see her outline giving herself a tired facepalm.

 

[Edric]

So the Kid actually was Anirian, curious.

Was he really just some on-looker here to watch the tournament? Edric supposed that wasn't impossible, though it did mean he was probably on the wealthier side. No one working a day job could have made it all the way up here, though sussing that out didn't really help Edric much.

Despite his now myriad escapades Edric still couldn't really tell one noble from another. It wasn't like there was some list you could study either. Wil could have told him he was the bloody Prince of Vel Anir and he would just have to take his word for it. "Fair enough."

He remarked, turning his head to look over his shoulder.

"Better get that..." A frown touched his face. "What did you call it? Barbecue?"

Edric said as he turned back towards Wil. Best to be moving on. If the girl recognized him there would be trouble, though in all honesty he had absolutely no idea what sort. Turin was a thousand miles from Vel Anir. But that didn't mean much, Edric knew from experience that Anirians didn't always respect another nations laws.

 

[Wilhelm Anireth]

"Barbeque! Yes!" Wil sounded and looked relieved, an expression that was hard to fake. Turning, the Prince retraced their steps part of the way and then branched off to the right taking them deeper into the winding mezzanines of makeshift walkways. It wasn't long before the scent of roasted meat reached the two young lads and Wil gave out a contented sigh - though not before checking over his shoulder to make sure the blonde hadn't followed them somehow.

He was tempted to ask how his new associate new Aelita but decided against it; knowing would mean he might have to do something.

"Right my friend, food's on me. What do you fancy?"

 

[Aelita]

Aelita never turned around toward Edric and Wil as they would depart for the barbeque restaurant. Eventually, she disappeared from Wil's view as she remained by the betting booth.

For now...

 

[Elspeth Sirl]

After regaling Elspeth with stories of that mornings competitions, Ollie went about helping to set up the medical tent.

Though more difficult in armor, the young Noble helped to unload several boxes of supplies. Stacking crates and listening to the directions of both Cera and his Betrothed until they were finally finished and had nothing but an empty cart.

Well that seems to b- Just as he was speaking a man pulled back the tent flap. His face was puffy and red, no small amount of panic decorating his features.

Help! Help me! He demanded in all haste. There was an accident, the joust, Lord Rodrick was caught by the throat!

Behind him, through the open tent flap, one could see people coming out from the other medical tents. Some clearly looking to help the situation and fetching medics while others simply went to look curiously. In the midst of the throng was a small palisade, upon it a man in regal armor that lucked more cumbersome than Ollie could bare.

A man was standing over the Knight, pressing a hand against his neck and shoulder while desperately shouting for assistance.

Ollie half turned on his heel. ”Elspeth!”

He called to her from across the tent.

Though she had plenty of helping hands with her, there was no lack of things needing doing. Having Ollie there to assist meant things got done quickly and efficiently. Elspeth was already seeing patients as the others wrapped up the unpacking and readying of the tent. Small things; a broken finger, a deep splinter, a cut on the arm - she was amidst wrapping the latter with gauze when she heard the commotion.

"Mister Gibbes would you finish up here for me?" she asked quickly as she dipped away to attend to whatever was happening outside the tent.

What she saw was a bit of a chaotic and bloody mess that made her eyes go wide and her nerves steel. With a glance to Ollie she rushed over to the palisade and the wounded Knight presently bleeding out under the hands of a comrade.

"Let me see him, move away!" she called, and gasped as he did so at the blood that gushed forth. The Knight's carotid artery had been sliced and, were it not for the magic of healers, there would certainly be no possibility of saving him. Not after the amount of blood he'd lost on the way to the Medical Tents.

"Cera? Cera I need you here!" Elsie yelled, but Cera was detained elsewhere, "I need a Healer!"

Elspeth bundled the front of her smock and firmly pressed it against the man's neck to stem the flow, "Is there a free Healer!?"

 

[Fieravene]

Colettes chin nudged upwards to meet the dark elfs gaze and her demeanor shifted slightly when, instead of a firm handshake, she received a kiss upon her knuckles.

There was something about this elf that she couldnt quite place. Some charm or trait that made the ashen skinned woman stand out from the rest of the crowd. Perhaps it was simply the confidence that seemed to radiant from her. Oh. Im sorry, Fieravena, I mean... Fi.

Crap.

Shed gotten her name wrong and made a poor first impression. That was hardly befitting of a champion of the Guard appointed to the Tournament of Turin! No need to dwell on it, shed just coast by and address the next thing the drow filled with charm stated.

Vel Anir is, the truth of the matter was the city had been rebuilding after the revolution. But the last time shed been there it had been, lovely this time of year. My parents own a little masonry shop not far from the Square. Had this woman truly been to Vel Anir? The city, even today, was rather inhospitable for non-humans but perhaps someone so well-spoken fared just fine.

"Indeed?" Fi lofted a brow, "Masonry... what a terribly fascinating art form and fortuitous for your parents as I understand there is a wealth of stone quarries in the Anirian basin. Business must be good given the amount of stone architecture I remember from before."

Though she was happy to make a conversation out of any subject, Fieravene found there were more interesting things to talk about, like -

"So how does a stone mason's daughter find herself flying the Anirian colors at a tournament this far north?"