Waldemai nods at the offer. "All right, I'll take Sparte. Is a hundred too much?" He adds, "Waldemai Isenhu, smith."

Sparte has joined the Field.

Ainsley finds himself a place to flop and says, "Mmmn." He taps his foot and says mildly, "I wonder if Gloria cares about betting on her Rites..."

"A hundred silver on Sparte," Kenna agrees with a nod to the man. "Lady Kenna Whitehawk," she flashes a grin at Waldemai, then looks towards Ainsley. "Is there a reason why Gloria might care?"

Sparte is off at one end of the Field, having a hard to hear but very animated conversation with Gene. Sparte has his staff in his hand, opting for solid wood for this match over the diamond swordstaff still strapped to his back. Judging from the gestures Gene doesn't agree with Sparte's choice. There is a lot of mustache twisting and disapproving headshakes from Gene.

Avary walks into the tournament grounds, glancing around at the gathering. She moves to take a seat, folding her slender hands and placing them in her lap.

Sparte wields Knothole Stave.

Avary has joined the General Seating.

Waldemai considers that thought as well. "I couldn't say, your highness. If you think it's a bad idea, though...Well a fight is exciting enough on its own."

Ainsley leans back a little bit and says to Kenna, "Well it's a rite to honor her. Is it considerate to bet upon two warrior's honoring her?" He tilts his head a little bit and then adds, "I'm not saying don't do it-- this is all good fun, I'm just engaging in a... what do they call it? When you concentrate so hard on something your head hurts?" He flashes Kenna a 'I'm Just A Dumb Oaf' smile.

Caspian stands in the middle of the field, stretching, waiting for people to file in for the Rite. He gives a smile over to Sparte before rising up, clapping his hands together as he steps for the seating. "Good afternoon," he calls to the crowd, speaking loudly so that all can hear him. "I welcome you to the Rite to Gloria, where Sparte and I will fight in honor of the goddess, as well as in honor of our victory against the Pirate King." He looks across to the small crowd, "Many brave men and women fought, and many lost their lives doing such, but by their sacrifice and the honor that Gloria teaches us to hold, we won. I ask you to spend the day thinking about those who fought and made it home, and those who do not, and being grateful to them all." He clasps his hands, "And with that, Sparte and I shall fight! This will be a duel to first blood, using real weapons, so if any of you can patch up wounds, feel free to see us after the fight...one of us is likely gonna need a few stitches!" He turns to Sparte next, asking, "Are you ready, friend?"

Caspian wields Freedom.

Caspian gets A steel barbute with rounded spikes along the dome from a simple blackened leather backpack.

Anya, the cool as an ice cube Champion apprentice have been dismissed.

"A headache Prince Ainsley." Kenna pops in a pert response and sits herself up. "How about we go with the bet - but the combined winnings can go to a charity of the winner's choice. There's more than enough need." That last is more serious. Standing she waves in the direction of Archlector Avary to invite her closer to their small group. When Caspian begins to speak she gets quiet, but isn't going to stop her wave till she's sure that Avary has seen it.

Renn, the mousy, scholarly brunette have been dismissed.

Morgan, a roguish looking gentleman have been dismissed.

Sparte laughs and parts from Gene, making his wave across the field towards Caspian with a wave towards the crowd. "Praise to Gloria and to Sentinel!" Turning his attention to Caspian, Sparte straightens his helmet before inclining his head. "Of course."

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

2 Iron Guardsmen arrives, following Titania.

Titania arrives, following Graham.

Waldemai bobs his head at Lady Kenna's suggestion. "To charity, of course. To the Golden Hart fund if Caspian wins. And your charity, my lady?"

Ainsley laughs a little bit and says, "No... contemplation? A thought experiment? If we're going for charity, I will also bet. A hundred on Sparte-- have to support my officers, after all." His attention turns toward the fight, now, however.

Waldemai checks his pouch. "All right, you are both covered. If Sparte wins, a hundred from me to each of your favorite charities, and if Caspian, a hundred from each of you to the Golden Hart fund.

The battle begins. Caspian wielding a single knife circles Sparte, looking for his way in. He lunges in and out, trying to prod Sparte, looking for a way to close the distance while avoiding the man. He envetually does, dodging the man's swing as he moves in to attack him. He stays close once in Sparte's range, trying to cut around his armor to draw some blood, but Sparte dodges each of his quick swipes. Caspian does his best to dodge, but Sparte's staff does hit him, though it strikes at his armor fruitlessly.

The city has many events happening this evening, and one cannot attend them all but one can at least go to couple that they wish to visit. It's from the road leading up to grounds that two more enter walking together Graham Stonewood looks to his side his arm out and with her hand lightly resting on it is Titania it wasnt a long walk from where they'd been but they are not walking swiftly either taking time to reach the area. "Shall we find a place to sit?" the young man asks.

It is a fun fight for Sparte, taking a stick up against a knife. He makes Caspian earn the distance to get into close quarters, but one they close together he is fighting a game that is more positioning than strikes. Keeping Caspian from getting full movement with their weapon arm by positioning the staff and himself to be at angles that block or force predictable movements. It is hard to make out from the stands, but is Sparte telling awful jokes to Caspian while they fight? Of course he is.

At the general seating Kenna Whitehawk waves her hand towards Titania in greeting, the woman not well know, but also not unknown.

Titania nods her head, "Yes, it looks like it has started." she smiles waving back to Kenna, "We can go join them if you like." she says to Graham.

Caspian thought he could have a better chance if he got close in with Sparte, trying to use his weapon's size to his distadvantage. He thought wrong. Caspian's redsteel dagger swings at the man in quick swipes, trying to earn that bit of blood from Sparte, but each attack is denied. Ether the man moves out of the way or his staff parries the attack. He dodges and parries Sparte though, moving with speed and grace, laughing to Sparte as he says something in return to the man, lips curled in a teasing grin as he tries to cut at the man's leg.

Graham nods to the words. "That sounds good, whichever you would prefer of course." He adds to the question of where they should go. The young soldier will wait for her to motion where she wishes to go before he falls into step.

Titania has joined the General Seating.

Graham has joined the General Seating.

Ainsley watches the fight with an intense focus, not looking away.

Sparte smirks at Caspian as the battle continues, trading exchanges with good natured spirits. The armor he is wearing doesn't seem to be slowing him down from his usual energy - yet. Another sidestep at the attempt for his leg, Sparte does a little spin to try rapping at Caspian's weapon hand with his staff.

Waldemai watches the fight. "THey're both so fast," he exclaims, admiration in his voice. Built squat and muscular, there might be a tad bit of jealousy in there, too.

Kenna Kenna scoots closer to Waldemai to make room for Titania and Graham to join them. "Lady Titania, it's good to see you again!" A glance towards Grahm doesn't cause her smile to falter even a little bit. "It seems like they're fairly well matched at the moment - //right//?" Kenna adds on at the end to Waldemai's comment.

Sparte's disarming attempt is denied as Caspian twists his body to bring his blade up to meet the staff, blocking it. He tries to follow up with a similar move, blade coming in to cut Sparte's arm, but of course Sparte is not letting that happen. He blocks the man's counter and tries to sidestep and cut at his side, but again, thwarted. "Trying to wear me out, I see!"

"Wear you out? Why Caspian, what gave you that tiring notion!" Sparte does a backpedal to try to build back up the distance between the two men, so that he might try some other maneuvers.

Avary watches the fight, a slight smile on her face as she watches the teasing between the combatants. She leans forward slightly, keeping an eye on the fighting, her hands fidgeting with her sleeves.

Graham moves to sit down helping his sister in law sit down first though she she wish the help. The glance is given a nod and a friendly smile "Good evening." He says in greeting though he'll look to the ring a moment to catch up on how the match goes for the two.

"You're so punny!" Caspian calls out to Sparte as he pushes forward as the man moves back, trying to keep the two close to each other. "How long can you stave off my attacks?" He asks the man with an amused grin as he ducks low under a swing of Sparte and tries to cut him along the stomach in a shallow cut. Though his attack hits Sparte, Sparte's cloak finds it's way between Caspian and his blade! Drats!

The shift of Sparte's cloak to get in the way seems intentional, Sparte attempting to whip it around Caspian's blade arm to trap it. Meanwhile Sparte intentionally shifts his staff outwards from the defensive position it had been in before, trying for a rapid thrust at Caspian's midrift while their weapon is out of position.

Sparte takes minor damage.

Caspian takes moderate damage.

Caspian takes minor damage.

Sparte takes minor damage.

Kenna nods towards Titania, "I don't believe I have had the pleasure. It's good to meet - Oh Sparte!" The abrupt change from the two men dancing about one another brings Kenna to her feet hands clasped together. Her expression is a mix of worry and excitement.

Sparte takes minor damage.

Sparte takes minor damage.

Caspian takes minor damage.

Sparte takes minor damage.

Sparte takes minor damage.

Waldemai exclaims, "By all the gods, they're about to fall over and they're still at it. Well fought, well fought!"

Kenna checked composure at difficulty 15, rolling 2 higher.

The two fighters begin to tire, and this is where the match becomes interesting. No longer to able keep thwarting each other's attack, Caspian takes a good hit to the gutt when Sparte prods him, and Caspian replies by lashing out at Sparte in return. And that's how the fight goes, the two men trading blows, each attack failing to draw blood from each other, though Caspian inches closes and closer as Sparte tires quicker then he does. And finally, when Sparte is too tired to dodge, Caspian cuts him along the bicep, enough to where red liqud pours from the wound as clear as day. And with that, Caspian thrusts up his dagger in victory! "Good fight!" He calls out with a grin to Sparte.

Avary gets to her feet, clapping loudly. "That was a wonderful fight!" She calls out, beaming at both of the combatants. "An excellent showing!"

Jordan has joined the Quiet Booth.

Jordan is apparently super late for the Rite of Gloria. Still, he has a bottle in hand, and he slips in quietly into the quiet booth, offering the booze towards Morrighan, commenting something at the 'box'.

Sparte does wear out quite a bit faster than Caspian, must be the metal armor. He grins despite the wound, reaching down to dip two fingers against his side and lifting the blood to look at it. "Good fight, praise to Gloria." Sparte inclines his head to Caspian. "You've the victory, Master Wild. Well earned."

Caspian is overheard praising Sparte for: He fought valently in a Rite to Gloria against me!

Sparte is overheard praising Caspian for: He stabbed me. For justice!

Kenna is overheard praising Sparte for: Losing gracefully for a good cause!

Avary is overheard praising Sparte for: A wonderful fight!

Avary is overheard praising Caspian for: A graceful Champion, a lot of fun to see!

"Praise to Gloria," Caspian says back to Sparte as he lowers his knife, reaching out to pat the man's shoulder. He turns to the crowd, "Praise to Gloria. And praise to Sparte, my friend who is an excellent fighter!" He lifts up Sparte's hand with a wide grin spread across his lips. It's not the arm that was cut though! "Is there anyone who can patch Sparte up?"

Titania smiles, "I can see to Sparte's wounds." she calls from the stands getting up slolwy she moves to place a hand on grahams shoulder, " I will be right back." she smiles moving to Caspian and Sparte.

Graham watches as the match ends and politely claps for the graceful ending. He nods as Titania moves by to help the fighters from their wounds as he looks about in the stands to see if he knows anyone else as well.

Avary sinks back to her seat, watching as the combatants are patched up. She waves to Jordan, a smile appearing on her face. "Sir Ober, did you miss the match?"

Titania has left the General Seating.

Sparte slips his staff away, pulling a cloth from his small healer's kit and pressing it tightly over the wound on his side. He is still standing and in good spirits despite the wound. Sparte says something quietly to Caspian before starting to walk towards Titania with his big goofy grin. "All in good spirits, but I expect I'll be assigned laps by the Lord Commander. For my own betterment, of course. So give me a stitch I can jog with, yeah?"

Titania has joined the Field.

Titania smiles at Sparte, "I am sorry I missed most of it, getting around is slow these days." she grins to him and looks to Caspian, "Master Caspien are you in need of any?" she smiles looking back to Sparte nodding, "Take a seat and I shall do so."

"I could use something for the pain, Sparte got me with some good hits," Capsian says back to Titania with a smile, then turns to the crowd. "That's it everyone! Thank you for coming out and watching us fight!"