Jessamine, the innocuous shop girl arrives, following Alarie.

Waldemai heads straight for the cheap seats up above, waving his cap at the waiter for a mug of ale and bowing to the assembled nobility.

Clunk, clunk, clunk comes in Lord Corban Telmar in fullplate, a weightier load than his usual helm, greaves, and breastplate. This, it seems, is a new configuration for him. But he wears it easier than he had in the past. Dipping his head to their hostess, he says: "If there is one taking to the sands tonight, I am happy to meet him or her."

Valencia enters the arena and smiles to see so many have already arrived. Glance about she waves down Lizette and whispers a few words, pause to smile a hello to Waldemai as he arrives. "Master Waldemai, welcome. It is good to see you returned. Lizzette will bring your drink for you," nods warmly as he passes by.

Waldemai hoists his mug and calls down, "Thank you, your highness."

Joslyn is sitting at the bar, considering Corban as he enters, a curious tilt of her head offered. "Well, if nobody else is available to take you on," Joslyn smiles and takes a drink. "I'd love to run you around the sands," she says, laughing a moment and giving Graham a little smile from her seat as well.

Jessamine, the innocuous shop girl leaves, following Alarie.

Sparte enters with weapons on and barely any armor on. He is chatting quietly and amicably with Wilhelm as they head inside. Wilhelm suddenly realizes where Sparte has brought him, however, and makes a hasty farewell before leaving the young guardsman by himself.

Wilhelm the Iron Messenger have been dismissed.

Valencia nods back to Corban happy to see him arrive ready to spar once again. "My dearest Lord, welcome back to my Hart," she says, offering him a delicate hand. "I see you are very ready to tonight's event. I wish you such great luck. I'm sure you will be splendid." As Sparte arrives there is a look of surprise and great delight. "Missere Sparte!" she offers to him and his messenger. "I am so very glad you are here. Have you come to spar or to enjoy the matches and a few drinks, sir?

Corban looks across the room to Joslyn when she says that she will spar, and dips his head. "As you wish, my Lady," he says to the woman, gesturing out to the sands. "We will see if I simply tire out you fell me as I stand. I have been training, but this is quite a step up from the partial plate I usually wear. But what is a friendly spar if not a place for trying new things?"

Sparte is caught off guard by Valencia's enthusiasm for his arrival. His cheeks redden a bit as he looks around. "Oh, er, I thought I better just watch. I mean, last time I got in a fight here I went a bit overboard. Rather not accidentally hurt anyone by, well, getting too into it again."

Red Armor Tournament Chest is now unlocked.

Blue Armor Tournament Chest is now unlocked.

Violet Armor Tournament Chest is now unlocked.

Green Armor Tournament Chest is now unlocked.

Silver Armor Tournament Chest is now unlocked.

Bronze Armor Tournament Chest is now unlocked.

Weapons Rack is now unlocked.

Valencia nods and smiles again. "Well, either way I'm thrilled you are here. Please find a seat. We'll be starting soon."

Keyser gets Golden Hart Arena Longsword from Weapons Rack.

Keyser gets Vermilion Drake Sabatons from Red Armor Tournament Chest.

Keyser gets Vermilion Drake Cuisses from Red Armor Tournament Chest.

Keyser gets Vermilion Drake Gauntlets from Red Armor Tournament Chest.

Keyser gets Vermilion Drake Cuirass from Red Armor Tournament Chest.

Keyser gets Vermilion Drake Helm from Red Armor Tournament Chest.

Lydia has joined the ringside table.

Keyser gets Vermilion Drake Arm Armor from Red Armor Tournament Chest.

Graham has made it a habit of late of being late to the sunday gatherings, and so makes special plans to not be late this time. The young man enters into the Arena glancing around a moment before stepping out of the door way and further in towards the tables. He is dressed in armor and his sword at his side but it's hard to tell if he plans to spar or just was already dressed as such.

Keyser wields Golden Hart Arena Longsword.

Keyser isn't much for showmanship. She's a big, soft lady but she's ready to challenge. The smile she gives is missing a tooth or several and looking proud about it as she makes for the loaner weapons and armor.

Joslyn rises from her seat, finishing off her drink and looking over to Corban, a grin planted on her lips. "Well, my only hope is to outlast you without taking too many hits. Should be interesting to see how armorless pits against plate," Josyln grins.

Lydia smiles and waltzes in, for once not chronically late to one of these gatherings. She heads right to the front-and-center, and claims one of the seats that appear to be at the center of tonight's activities, waving to Valencia in passing.

Corban has joined the ring of valor.

Sparte goes to take a seat, turning to watch who'll show up and compete with interest.

Joslyn has joined the ring of valor.

Joslyn is greeted with a warm hug and a bright smile. "You are back! I was hoping. I swear you will become a Hart champion by default at this rate," she teases. "Will Lady Delilah be attending as well tonight" she asks hopefully, pausing to offer a warm wave to Lydia as she arrives and hurries by to take her seat as does Graham as he arrives, though it is markedly more reserved but still polite.. Keyser also gets a warm smile, "HOw do you do? Welcome to my Hart! I do not think we have met yet. I am the Princess Valencia. Please be welcome."

Waldemai cheers for the first bout. "I'll lay five hundred silver on Lady Joslyn," he calls down from the rafters. "Any takers?"

Corban steps into the ring and takes his sword from his hip, raising it to the Champion that he is opposite. "It will be a study in contrasts," agrees the Telmar Voice, smiling to her. "Gloria do you honor, Lady Joslyn." He then falls into a more ready stance.

Corban wields heart of The Telmarch Oathlands redsteel blade.

Sword and helm picked out, Keyser sweeps down to where Joslyn and Valencia and all gather. "Keyser, Yer Highness," the buxom woman replies to Valencia. "Whose battlin' the winner o' this round? Any spoken for?"

Keyser calls back out to Waldemai, hearing him over the din. "Aye! I'll take tha' bet!"

A fight has broken out here. Use @spectate_combat to watch, or +fight to join.

Joslyn squeezes Valencia with a warm smile, dipping her head. "Oh I love these nights," Joslyn smiles. "I hope to do the hart proud!" she says, climbing up to join Corban, Joslyn bows her head towards him, plucking hairpins from her hair and preparing to face off against the heavily armored Telmar. "And glory to you, Lord Corban." she says as she assumes a ready stance, her knees bending at the ready.

Waldemai waves down to Keyser. "We're on then!" He waves his mug for a refill.

Sparte listens to the bet being made and laughs, before he shouts over to Keyser. "You better start counting your coins."

Valencia smiles fondly and shakes her head, glance up to Waldemai as the wager is made and another little smile Sparte's way as he calls out to the woman.. "I am not sure, but if you call it, the match is yours, Mistress Keyser. For now would you care to join us at the table," she asks waving a hand to were Lydia is seated. "I would be so happy to have you join us."

Valencia has joined the ringside table.

Graham looks and nods to Joslyn "Good evening." He turns looking to the host of the event his smile is warm offering a bow "Your Highness, it's wonderful to see you." He comments with his usual amount of enthusiasum though his gaze lingers a moment longer before he moves towards a chair perhaps to sit and watch the match.

Painbow, a militant pygmy goat arrives, delivering a message to Corban before departing.

Joslyn takes moderate damage.

"Easy enou' to count when you don't got many," Keyser shrugs backwards at Sparte. "But I'm thinkin', lookit the size of tha' one," chin-jerks to Corban. "Easy money." Keyser turns back to Valencia. "Don't wanna dity yer chairs none, Yer Highness, so I'll stand."

"An' I'll take on the winner, if they'll have it," Keyser adds.

"My dear goodwoman, that is never a worry. Please, let me by you a drink," Valencia invites warmly as she takes a seat and bids a bright and very affectionate welcome to Lydia.

Joslyn takes minor damage.

Joslyn takes minor damage.

Joslyn wields two slender hair sticks set with dainty glass roses.

It is quite the contrast, the fullplate-wearing Telmar Voice against the hairpin-wielding, unarmored Champion. Corban gets the first slashes in, his blade striking her silks (though dulled for the practice), and he presses the attack, though when Joslyn finds her footing, they are more-equal.

Lydia leans forward at her table, chin propped on hands, staring and following the fight with interest the moment those hairpins came out!

It's a bit of a rough start, perhaps she trips over a snag on her dress, and this throws her off balance, but that sword finds home more than a few times, try as she might to keep distance between them. She gives a bit of a smile and a nod towards him. "Okay, maybe my friends have a point," she laughs, pressing her attack back on.

Keyser's eyes are jumping between Waldemai and the fight, looking pretty cheerful. "Sure, Yer Highness. I'd never turn down a free drink! Yer as sweet as a ripe peach! Rum, if you please. Nice place you got here."

Waldemai is having his usual great time watching the fight. "It's like a wasp and a turtle," he shouts.

The little vixen sits back in her chair now, her large dark eyes glimmering as the combatants face off. Valencia's cheeks turn pink at the compliment as she nods to Keyer and then turns to signal a pretty blonde serving girl to bring rum. "You are very kind, but truly it is my pleasure. I am so glad you like it. I hope you will visit often," she smiles turning back to watch the sands, "I think we are in for another very fierce battle tonight."

Lydia history

Well, then. After Corban's initial lunge with the sword, he and Joslyn find themselves locked in a back-and-forth battle, with her hairpins not able to get past his armor, and his blade not quite finding her. And so they continue to circle.

It's indeed a dance, she can make contact but not quite find the weak points in his armor, missing those joints and twiling away harmlessly from his retaliation, having definitely found her pace.

Corban takes serious damage.

Waldemai is shocked by the force of that blow! "With a hairpin!" he exclaims. That calls for an ale.

Graham watches the fight go back and forth with some interest. He hasnt ordered a drink or bite to eat as of yet and simply sits watching with the rest of the crowd. "They can be swift and dangerous hair pin's that is. The young soldier offers.

Valencia's eyes widen at the strike and she gasps in shock, nearly rising from her seat. "Indredible," she whispers, her eyes now held to the ring as one of her serving girls bring Keyser and Lydia a drink before moving to see to Sparte and his guest, while another makes her way up to the rafters with another pitcher of ale for Waldemai, and Lizzette sets out to see if Graham would like anything to drink as well.

It appears that even with Lord Corban's training, he is starting to tire badly, the full plate (even rubicund full plate!) weighing him down something awful. But he presses on gamely, even as the hairpin from Joslyn finds a spot in his tortise-shell armor.

She manages to find that weak spot, jamming that pin deep along one of the joints with a deep effort, the woman is in good shape, and the lack of armor is giving her far more staying power than she normally would have.

Corban takes serious damage.

Lydia ignores the drink, half on her feet as well in time with Valencia!

Corban takes serious damage.

Corban checked stamina, willpower + survival at difficulty 19, rolling 30 higher.

Corban remains capable of fighting.

Lydia screams out, "Yes!", far more interested in this bout than most any she's ever watched.

Waldemai looks on as Corban is staggered. "Well taken!" he shouts.

Corban could probably fight on, but the jabs of the hairpins are wearing him down, as is his own armor. "All right, Lady Joslyn," he laughs before is laid out flat by the woman. "My experiment has yielded what I wanted to know. I yield." He takes a knee in the sands.

Valencia nearly begins to bounce as she rises from her seat, calling out and cheering for both Joslyn and Corban, "Bravo!" she cries out applauding with reckless abandon!

Lydia jumps up and down at her seat, cheering Valencia's victory!

Lydia jumps up and down at her seat, cheering Joslyn's victory! (fixed)

As she notes his fatigue, Joslyn digs in her heels, growing far more aggressive with each passing moment, and this time she won't let up on the attack, pins flying every which way as she darts around him, making a constant biting and stinging moving target, and despite her aggression, the moment he yeilds, Joslyn's movements cease and she smiles down to the man kneeling in the sand. "Thank you, My Lord," she says, grinning towards him, tucking her pins away. "Truth be told, I don't fare very well in plate either, I can hardly move."

Waldemai cheers for both fighters as well. "Well fought! Well fought! And what an experiment!"

Corban rises to his feet once Joslyn recognizes his yield and steps forward, offering his hand for a firm shake. "Well fought," he says as he sheathes his sword and makes his way off the sands. "Even with more training, I think I will only wear part of the plate in the field."

Keyser doesn't look put out in the least when Joslyn wins. "Ah! Well, them's the breaks! I'll have you your coin, m'lord!" she calls back to Waldemai. "Was a helluva a show, any rate!"

Waldemai is no lord! "Thank you very much, and if you won't call me Wald, Master Smith will do!" He spreads some of the silver around, buying drinks for the cheap seats.

Drinks are brought to Corban and Joslyn as the Hart's mercies check them over. Seeing that all is well, Valencia turns to smile at Keyser, "Do you think you would like to have a match, Mistress Keyser? You are most welcome to step on sands," she smiles gently and nods.

"Oh, I'd like nothin' more, if'n the lady," Keyser's chin jerks to Joslyn, "will match me?"

Joslyn giving a bow to her audience, Joslyn grins and flourishes as she rises. "Thank you all. It's always a lot of fun to put on a good show," Joslyn beams, and tilts her head towards Keyser. "Of course, I'd be delighted," she says, reaching for the pins she carries in her pouch for just such occasions. "Come on up, Miss?" Joslyn dips her head.

Keyser has joined the ring of valor.

Lydia's jaw drops as her tablemate challenges Joslyn almost immediately. She picks up her drink without taking her eyes off the ring, her magical senses knowing exactly where it was delivered to her table, and takes a big swig before settling in to watch another round!

Isabetta wanders in, as if she is looking for something and seems to spot it without any great effort . She otherwise makes no effort to grab any attention, preferring to stay in the back and just observe. Meanwhile amusement dances in her features.

A fight has broken out here. Use @spectate_combat to watch, or +fight to join.

Waldemai calls out, "Long sword against hair pins...Any favorites?"

Keyser steps into the ring alongside Joslyn, tossing the smaller, less buxom woman a bright, toothless grin. "Never done this before, Lady. Here's hoping I know how."

Lydia cheers, "Pointy end goes in first!"

Corban has left the ring of valor.

Captain Reedy, a Telmarine military aide leaves, following Corban.

Joslyn grins a bit and tilts her head curioudly. "Never before? Well let us see if you are a natural," Joslyn grins, dropping into a ready stand and beginning her paces around the woman.

Keyser takes moderate damage.

Valencia takes her seat again and smiles to Lydia. "She is so very impressive, is she not," the little vixen beams, her dark eyes catching Isabetta's arrival as she bids Corban farewell for now.

Lydia nods emphatically, "I want to be able to do that! I am so jealous!" The slip of a woman is laughably unsuited for combat, looking like a stiff breeze could knock her over. This is demonstrably untrue of course, not even a stiff drink can do that to the northern girl, but built for fighting she seems not.

"I'm a natural at somethin'," Keyser grunts out, slow to figure out the dynamics of the sand and the tiny hair pins, taking a hit from them early on. "But I don't think it's this, m'lday." She has enough good humor to waggle her thicks brows suggestively.

As Joslyn twils around Keyser, she laughs a bit. "So, what are you a natural at?" Joslyn wonders, even as she's tagging the other woman with a shot and dancing out of the way of her retalitations, anticipating the sword's movements with so-far perfect timing.

Waldemai watches the amazing footwork in awe. "Amazing! That's the way to fight!"

Valencia sits back to enjoy the fight. "You know, it never fails to make me smile to see just how many accomplished women fighters we have here. Truly an inspiration," she nods again enthusiastically. "Have you ever sparred, my darling?" she turns to ask Lydia with an impish smile.

As the fighting goes on, Keyser picks up the footwork, doing her best to ape the other, smaller woman. Her breasts swing a lot more wildly, but the feet she seems to manage. "Oh, twouldn't do to tell a Lady, m'lady," she says to Joslyn brightly.

Joslyn continues that dance around the other woman, her pins stabbing out and this time not quite managing to make contact, and she grins a little bit with a suggestive wink. "You're not very familiar with the Lyceum, are you?" Joslyn asks, grinning sideways. "You'll have to try mighty hard to make me blush," she twirls around her easily, eyeing the movements of the other woman curiously.

Keyser takes minor damage.

Lydia shakes her head no, but also blushes a little. "Alexis thought a little exercise might do me well, she got me started and I've worked with some others. It's kinda like fighting, but at the same time it's kinda like dancing," she says as she tries to describe something almost yoga-like in practice.

Keyser takes moderate damage.

Joslyn takes moderate damage.

Joslyn takes minor damage.

Keyser takes minor damage.

Keyser takes moderate damage.

Keyser takes minor damage.

Keyser takes moderate damage.

Keyser checked stamina, willpower + survival at difficulty 17, rolling 32 higher.

Keyser remains capable of fighting.

Keyser checked stamina, willpower + survival at difficulty 24, rolling 32 higher.

Keyser remains capable of fighting.

Keyser checked stamina, willpower + survival at difficulty 53, rolling 12 higher.

Keyser remains capable of fighting.

Keyser checked stamina, willpower + survival at difficulty 118, rolling 78 lower.

Keyser checked stamina, willpower + survival at difficulty 74, rolling 18 lower.

Keyser is incapacitated.

Keyser falls unconscious.

Lydia is half rising as the fight reaches a climax, then stops in mid-leap, her jaw hitting the floor as the coup-de-grâce is delivered. She stands there, frozen, as the fight comes to the end.

Waldemai cheers the contestants. "Well fought! Well fought! If all our soldiers fought so well we'd be invincible!" Yeah, it's about five or six ales into the night's competition.

Keyser's breasts must take a lot of hits! They deflect a good deal, though they can't quite take the most punishing of blows Joslyn deals out with those keen little hair pins. Eventually, huffing and puffing and panting, the sword is knocked from her hand, made slippery by sweat, and she offers, bent double, "I yield! Oh, how I yield! I'm 'bout ready to flood this stadium with my pits!"

As before, Joslyn stops quickly and dipsher head towards the woman, drawing a soft breath and a giggle offered as she reaches a hand to shake. "Well done, considering you'd never fought before? Made me work for it," Joslyn grins. "Though that's all for me tonight," she says, moving then to join the rest.

Valencia rises from her chair and applauds again, her large dark eyes gleaming with respect for these women. As they leave the sands, the little vixen send one of her members of staff their way with a new bottle of wine and rum for Keyser. Settling back down she smiles and takes a breath. "I think it is wonderful that you are taking training from Dame Alexis. I have heard very good things," she nods to Lydia, "Perhaps I might come to watch lesson sometime, yes? I would be so honoured."

Keyser goes to put back the borrowed sword and helm, and presumably to dry herself off with a large towel.

Graham claps politely at the end of the next match "Well fought both of you." He says though he hadnt gotten a drink he looks about to the gathering, and then back to his table a moment though he only shifts in his chair a little.

Keyser has left the ring of valor.

Soot, a gray foxhound puppy arrives, following Petal.

Petal arrives while adorned in common clothing and carrying her sewing basket. Her hound is close to her slender legs.

Joslyn eyes Lydia as she dips her head and settles in a nearby seat. "You're getting training from Dame Alexis?" Joslyn asks. "She's a great fighter, and you're in good hands with her," Joslyn beams happily, casting a warm smile to Graham as well. "Thank you Graham. I feel like my hobbies aren't really becoming of the kind of image I want people to have of me, but... it's just so much fun."

Waldemai has his hammer with him and more than a few drinks in him. He waves the hammer above his head. "Anyone want to try it? It's not like fighting a sword!"

Petal looks over to Waldemai. "I don't know. I never fought with anything save for my bow." She says in his direction. The seamstress has a heavy accent.

Lydia smiles at Joslyn, "Alexis is very good at what she does, but wow, what you did up there?! I'm sure you could teach me some things, too!"

Petal peeks over to Joslyn and lydia, having a smile for them that touches her blue eyes.

Waldemai has to think that one over. "The healers will fix me up if I'm full of arrows, won't they?" Might let some of the ale out...

Isabetta turns and leaves as quietly as she came.

Lydia does a little double-take, something Petal said, and suddenly feels practically unschooled as even her favourite seamstress is trained in some form of combat or another... and herself? She's just Lydia the flighty. Lydia downs the rest of her drink and tries to hide amongst the redheads.

Valencia smiles brightly to see Petal arrive and she offers a bright smile. There is a glace above to Waldemai, who might be drunk as he considers Petal's bow, "Um, they would if required. It is not often we have bows here. We could set up target if it pleases?" She turns to look Sparte's way, "Missere Sparte, would you considering officiating if we were to do a short range archery competition tonight?"

"I think they will." Petal says toward Waldemai. She then turns to Lydia, giving her a sheepish smile. "Duchess.." She says and dips down into a curtsy that seems directed toward her. Petal then turns to Valencia, having a smile for her. "I mean, I coudl spar someone with a sword, I just never used one before, so it might be a quick fight."

Lydia gets wide-eyes, like someone who'll ask to try something, if it were set up. She half-returns Petal's curtsy, always full of respect for artists and makers.

Waldemai offers, "You can use my steel hat as a target. It'll turn most arrows...and I can patch it up later if it doesn't."

Joslyn grins to Lydia and nods happily to her. "Well, I'm sure I could. It's been a while since I saw you, I hope you're well." Joslyn takes a sip of the dirnk delivered by Valencia.

Lydia nods, "Just mired in the paperwork of the duchy. Any opportunity to get out from behind that desk is a good one!"

Valencia rises form the table, "If you would pardon me, ladies. I will see about this archery contest, yes? I shall return," she calls with a smile as she slips down to speak with Petal. "Did you wish to try, or would you prefer more of a traditional target?" she asks gently.

"I certainly understand that," Joslyn says, smiling a bit towards Lydia again, with a glance towards Petal next. "You know the bow?" she asks. "Now that's something I've never quite figured out."

Petal looks over to Waldemai, the girl seemingly a bit concerned. "Oh, I don't about that." She murmurs softly. "Hitting at someone's head, doesn't seem right." She says before looking over to Joslyn. "I know such, but not like I know sewing. I am not as good with such as many."

Valencia blinks shakes her head. "Oh! I didn't think his head would be in the helmet, though if it helps, we do have tourney arrows," she nods and smiles again. "That is not a perfect thing but perhaps less lethal? Would that be better?"

Waldemai is drunk, not stupid. "Here," he says, tossing the steel helmet down. "You can prop it up in a corner or something."

Waldemai drops Hard steel hat.

"Oh." Petal says softly. "I will shot at empty helmet." She says and starts to remove her bow from her back. "I thought you mean shooting at you and well, that wouldn't feel right." Petal adds a moment later.

"We probably shouldn't be shooting arrows at people... it's not as good in training as melee," Joslyn explains with a little tilt of her head, chuckling a bit. "Should prove interesting."

Scamp the raccoon kit arrives, following Tallius.

Joslyn rises then from the seat, dipping her head to all assembled. "It has been a lovely evening, thank you Princess Valencia for hosting, as always," she moves and wraps her arms around the Princess in a tight embrace.

Valencia smiles brightly and hugs Joslyn back with great affection. "Thank you again, you were marvelous. I will see you late I hope," she says with another smile. "We hare having a champions event, will you be appearing as a champion?" she asks hopefully.

Petal as her blue bow drawn and is standing in the arena. She draws back an arrow and tries to shot at a empty steel helm that is set-up as a target.

Petal checked dexterity + archery at difficulty 15, rolling 28 higher.

Tallius slips into the area just in time to see Petals shot and whistles approvingly, "That's how you do it love!" he calls cheerfully, the man smiling. He's also got a bow and quiver of arrows on his back, looks like archery might be a point of commonality between the two. He's heading looking for a table though.

Lydia rises, and checks out the available bows in a "this could be amusing and fun" sort of way. She pauses to watch Petal's first shot and whistles a little as she scores a solid hit.

Joslyn has left the ring of valor.

Sparte glances around where he sits, seeming to have been daydreaming. Or sleeping with his eyes open. Same thing, right? Seeing people beat each other to new exciting colors must be relaxing for the guardsman. "Wait, someone asked me to do something." He slowly narrows his eyes. "Something with... Bows?"

Lydia picks something that likely only vaguely resembles Petal's custom bow in that it is in fact a string held taught by some curved wood, and three arrows. She stands at the edge of the impromptu range and patiently waits her turn.

Valencia smiles as the target is struck and she lets out a cheer. "I was never very good with a bow. But it does look fun," she says to Lydia with a grin. Sparte seems to wake and the little fox smiles gently, "I thought perhaps you might like to officiate if we were to have a little archery contest, but if it pleases, perhaps I can try if you would prefer to relax, missere. You work so very hard"

Sparte rises up from his seat, giving Valencia a shake of his head. "No, it is quite alright. Sorry, I have a lot on my mind. But it isn't right now, so happily." He looks between Lydia and Valencia for a few moments. "Orificiate means gets shot at, right?"

Valencia blinks in absolute horror. "NO! Gods! NO!" she exclaims waving her hands. "I had thought more of a leadership officiating role? Leading the competition and such?" she tries to explain.

Petal as her bow drawn. When Tallius arrives, she gives him a smile of greeting that touches her brown eyes. "Tallius.." Shes says and then adds. "We are having an archery contest. Do you want to join? See if you can hit the target too. I just hit it." She murmurs.

Sparte ohhhs, resting one fist into an open palm. "Right right, officiate. So telling people who to shoot at." A second passes. "What to shoot at. Do you want me to stand over by the targets, so they can follow my directions easily?"

Tallius hmms, "An archery contest you say? Ooo da lolly.." Where that came from is hard to explain most likely. He reaches up and pulls his bow out, "I'll be glad to play, if you want me to love," he agrees amiably as he begins to string the bow. The string of his bow is a shimmering wire of braided metal that shines with the light it catches.

Lydia steps back, having watched Petal, she wants to watch at least a couple others try first before she takes her untrained chances.

Valencia stares up at Sparte a moment unsure what to say. "Perhaps you could stand at the firing line?" she asks with a gentle smile. "So they might hear you better, yes?" she nods.

Lydia has left the ringside table.

Sparte gives Valencia two big thumbs up and goes off to get into the specified position, in order to help people figure out which end of the arrow to point out of their bows. He is modestly helpful, like a warning on packing peanuts telling you they arn't actually peanuts.

Waldemai calls out, "More ale! This is going to be different! Five hundred on the one who doesn't fight...Petal, I think he name is."

The target is set by a member of the Hart's staff who gives a dubious look at Sparte and then a look to the Princess. Valencia chews her lip and looks a little worried, then decides to stand by Sparte to help him if he should need it. The targets set up, the first round is ready to begin. The little vixen gently clears her throat to alert Sparte to this

Petal is in line, but she just shot and so she lets Tallius and whoever else step in front of her. She gives Tallius a smile. "Oh, I do, I just hope you don't win over me." She says in her heavily accented voice.

Lydia tugs on her bowstring while watching Tallius take his shot.

Tallius checked dexterity + archery at difficulty 15, rolling 55 higher.

Tallius eyes the target being placed, then eyes Petal and winks. He smoothly draws an arrow, nocks it, draws the bow and fires in a single motion, sending the arrow lancing across the all too short distance towards the target. He's got a tiny level of cockiness to him when he fires but turns and winks at Petal.

Lydia applauds Tallius, and then steps up for her turn. At this point, she does not do several things. She does not fumble with her arrow, easily nocking it on the string and resting it against her and and the bow as she's seen others do. She does not shoot anyone's foot. She doesn't hesitate to make a reasonable attempt at sighting, allowing a little elevation as she's seen others do. She does not take her eye off the target until after she releases her fingers and lets fly.

Lydia checked dexterity + archery at difficulty 15, rolling 6 lower.

Sparte takes the cue from Valencia, signaling to the competitors to fire. Maybe a little late, but he gets it.

Lydia also does not hit the target, why break a streak?

Petal watches as Tallius hits the target and well his hit was better than her own. She pouts for a moment, but then smiles. "yay, Tallius." She murmurs before, turning to watch Lydia take a turn.

Waldemai ducks the wild shot up in the rafters.

Valencia looks up as the arrow goes a stray. Seeing no one is hurt she takes a little breath, and offers an encouraging.

Valencia looks up as the arrow goes a stray. Seeing no one is hurt she takes a little breath, and offers an encouraging smile. [fix]

Lydia shrugs and steps aside, clearly she was counting on beginner's luck and overthought everything.

Tallius smiles, "Don't worry about it, everyone is new to the bow at some point," he says reassuringly, "it's all a matter of practice and time, and the Training Center has a fair archery range if you want to work on it sometime."

Petal has a smile for Lydia. "Okay..I will try again." She says taking a step back into further range and lining up for a more difficult shot.

Petal checked dexterity + archery at difficulty 20, rolling 22 higher.

Tallius follows Petal to the next range mark and nods, raising his own bow to attempt the shot.

Tallius checked dexterity + archery at difficulty 20, rolling 40 higher.

Valencia moves to stand beside Lydia and wraps and arm around her, leaning in to whisper. "I'd likely have shot myself in the foot," she confesses with a nod, giving her friend a little comforting squeeze.

Lydia shrugs and trots up to the line. With a deep breath, she repeats the process... hopefully not the entire process but one with a different outcome. She grins, tugs back the string, then lets loose...

Lydia checked dexterity + archery at difficulty 20, rolling 4 higher.

Sparte continues to assist Valencia by trying to keep people on direction and aiming at the proper target. Other than Lydia, his help doesn't seem all that relevant.

Lydia hears an oddly muffled thunk, and looks back down-range. "I ...I hit it?" She breaks out in the silliest of grins!

Tallius grins too, "See, all it ever takes is a little encouragement to find success," he says approvingly.

Waldemai applauds all the shooters in the more difficult round.

Lydia smiles and walks off with Tallius as Petal is up for the final round.

The arrow hits home and the little vixen lets out a yell that would make her cousin Serafine grin with joy and jumps up and down grasping Sparte's arm. All decorum is lost at seeing Lydia's arrow strike the target. "Wooooooo! Lydia!!!!" she calls out with a big happy grin.

Valencia claims this

Lydia grins, again ear-to-ear, to hear Valencia cheering... for her!

Petall cheers for both Tallius and Lydia at their shots. She smiles and steps up for the last shot. "Um, blindfold me Tallius?" She asks.

Tallius gives juuuuust a little blush as Petal asks him to blindfold her, coughing slightly, before he moves to pull a scarf from a pouch at his belt. No doubt he has many, many scarves after all. He slips up behind her and gently folds the scarf before wrapping it around her head to obscure her eyes, tying it gently.

Petal sucks in a soft breath and her cheeks warm just a bit. The tiny seamtress is now blind folded. She tries to draw back the bow and shoot at the target.

Petal checked dexterity + archery at difficulty 30, rolling 11 higher.

Lydia jumps a little, squeals a little, as Petal soundly hits the mark while blindfolded, "How do you even?!!"

Tallius smiles and watches the arrow strike true, "Someone's been practicing," he observes mildly to Petal and grins. He then pulls a chair over and sits down upon it, "your turn love, to blindfold me," he says.

Waldemai cheers for the blindfolded shot.

Petal taks off her blindfold and smiles. "Oh,I have been." She says happily in her accented voice. She then rises to her tiptoes and goes to blindfold Tallius.

Tallius checked dexterity + archery at difficulty 30, rolling 40 higher.

Sparte is shook around by the arm a bit, looking like he would have prefered to have been stirred. "Er, ah, congratulations." He looks impressed by all the blindfold shots. "You're all, uh, apt hands. The guard could use more archers."

Tallius stands up from the chair once he's blindfolded and then draws an arrow, wobbling around with his aim as though he's uncertain where the target should be, and no doubt eliciting gasps from a few of the crowd before he launches the arrow straight and true towards the target.

Waldemai shouts, "WOOF!" THere is nothing else to say after a shot like that.

Lydia just rolls her eyes as Tallius skewers the bullseye after a brief comedic performance. She's still grinning though as she switches places with him and the helpers come to tie a blindfold around her head. "Showoff," she mutters. Once blindfolded she can't see how everyone from rafters to the floor move a little farther behind her as she carefully lifts her bow in some semblance of the "right direction".

Lydia checked dexterity + archery at difficulty 30, rolling 7 lower.

Petal cheers for Tallius. "Oh, wow..great Tallius." She says in her heavy accent. Her cheeks are flushed and she seems sincerely quite impressed. She then smile as Lydia goes to try.

Lydia does about as well as she did with the first shot she took, but this time blindfolded and twice as far back. Pulling off her blind to see the arrow sticking proudly in one of the high rafters, she grins, "Gonna leave that one there for me for a while, Valencia?"

Waldemai has to move his feet quickly to avoid a perforation to the tootsie. This calls, of course, for, "More ale! And if you need some armor to get up here safely, there are bargains to be had at Champion Chainmail on Southport Square." Because any publicity os good publicity.

The little vixen laughs and nods. "I think that would be most appropriate to mark our first every archery competition," Valencia grins glancing up to the rafters and back. The smile grows even more as she turns her eyes back to the contest even as Lizette heads up the ladder to the rafters, though this time she takes a seat beside Waldemai to watch.

Tallius looks up at the rafter and considers, "I don't know, I think Princess that it might be better if perhaps she favored the arrow with a token..a ribbon perhaps in house colors, to mark and claim it," he says with a smile. It doesn't seem like he means it in a mean fashion.

/history

Lydia dusts her hands off and returns her bow to the rack. "Thanks for letting me try, Valencia, that was fun."

Petal smiles oer to Tallius at his words. She stands close to he man with her bow lowered and seems to finished with archery for the moment. "It was fun. Nice to have a different kind of sparring." She adds in her heavy accent.

Valencia smiles up at Tallius and nods. "What a wonderful idea, missere. I love it," she says looking up at the arrow again. "How fitting, yes?" she asks Sparte and Lydia.

"Whoever wins the next competition will add their house ribbon to that arrow," Valencia decides with a little smile.

Lydia grins, "I like it."

Waldemai cranes his neck to look over at the arrow planted in the rafter. "Enough ribbons could bring the house down," he observes. "Can I pick up my helmet now?"

Waldemai picks up Hard steel hat.

Tallius checked dexterity + archery at difficulty 30, rolling 17 higher.

Sparte calls over to Lydia. "I can probably introduce you to someone that gives lessons, if you ever want any." He isn't saying she did badly. Not exactly. Valencia he gives a grin before he looks to Tallius. "Would throw the aim off a bit. I mean, maybe not enough to matter."

Tallius takes his next shot if the contest continues on, concentrating on his aim until someone calls out to 'hurry'. It seems to mar his shot, and his arrow goes just slightly wide of the mark, to which the northman sighs. "Alas," and shakes his head. He moves to step away as he's eliminated from any proceeding rounds.

Lydia smiles, not used to being courted for any sort of training, "I'll be thinking about it." She looks like she had a good time.

Petal watches as Tallius takes the next shot, giving him a smile and seemingly clueless that he might not be doing his best.

Sparte is standing there, fairly impressed, and not entirely sure if there is anything left to do now that the competition is at a wrap. He rocks on his feet a bit, glancing back over to the table where he was sitting.

Valencia gentle nudges Sparte, whispering, "The winner? We should announce, yes?"

Valencia smiles fondly at the man, "I believe it was Mistress Petal," she says looking to Tallius for confirmation that he yields.

Tallius nods to Valencia, smiling as he does and reaching out to pat Petal on the shoulder. "Well done love," he approves. He's already unstringing his bow and putting it away.

Sparte gets a nudge from Valencia and blinks. A few quickly murmured responses before Sparte looks over to Petal, then Tallius. "Oh, uh. Right." Sparte starts towards Petal, offering his hand to raise her's up. "And the winner is... Petal Penrose, Proprietor of the Tangled Skein!" Because he decided this is where you do market placement.

Lydia applauds happily, "Well done, Petal!" She bounces with enthusiasm once again.

Waldemai cheers for Petal as well. "Well done! Well shot! An excellent competition!"

Tallius is overheard praising Petal for: A fine seamstress -and- an excellent archer.

There is a mix of cheers and woots from the audiences and the little vixen beams. "I think we've started a lovely new competition here tonight. Thank you so much," she beams. "Congratulations Mistress Petal! Thank you, everyone!"

Petal seems all happy and she never catches on that the contest was rigged. "Oh, I won, wow..against you Tallius!" She says and sounds all surprised. She goes to hug the archer.