6 House Velenosa Guards, Vanora arrive, following Talen.

Aleksei has joined the Field.

Jeffeth has joined the Field.

The arrival of the Archduke Consort is one that looks incomplete without the Archduchess upon his arm. Instead, today, it's a Lady of Grimhall who attends him as a companion. With a steady motion in the clank and rattle of steel armour which can't at all be comfortable, he finds them a place before hailing his Champion to the sidelines. "Master Morgan, a moment." There's a bow to Fairen, then a nod to Jeffeth, at first greeting.

a lithe, dark-cloaked Lycene woman arrives, delivering a message to Talen before departing.

Aleksei is here in leathers that can use an update. The black leather is marked with Skald's sigil -- eh, still pretty normal -- as well as the sigil of the Faith in some places, which is probably a bit odd, given his status now. But he's stretching out his shoulders a bit on the field, testing the fit of the leathers that he possibly hasn't pulled out from his closet in quiet a while. Twist around. Tug at this trap, adjust this other one. When Talen calls him over, his brows sweep up, and he strides over to him. "Aleksei's fine," he says with a wry, crooked smile.

Golden, an Oakhaven bloodhound, Gunther, a Rottweiler, Micana, 1 Saik Guard arrive, following Lucita.

Arriving vaguely from the direction of the Traders Tavern comes the infamous frame of Marquis Fairen Leary, along with his assortment of guards. Perched on his shoulder is a Northern Hawk Owl, staring out into the world with a harsh, judgemental gaze.

Binky, an asshole crow, Gregory, an unassuming disciple arrive, following Aureth.

Aleksei drops Toddler Fitzcarraldo.

Vanora does not even imagine in her deepest heart of hearts that she makes the same striking picture on Talen's arm as the Archduchess, but she makes -a- picture at least. She speaks to him in low tones on their way across the city to the proving grounds, but she hangs back when the Archduke-Consort calls Aleksei over for commisseration of whatever sort, taking the time to skim the rest of the crowd curiously.

Grazia enters to watch the duel with perfect posture: spine straight, shoulders back, head held high and proud. In a word, she moves like a duchess. She seeks out somewhere to sit so that she can most properly observe.

Grazia has joined the High Booth.

Aureth has joined the Judges Booth.

Fairen has joined the Quiet Booth.

Aureth takes a seat at the Judges' Booth. It's probably because he's judging you.

Amanda Whisper steps onto the grounds, dressed in understated dove grey, with a warm cloak over her shoulders and a smile on her red-painted lips. Playing escort is a toddler - Fitzcarraldo - dressed in equally warm and dapper looking clothing. Amanda makes for the stands, near as she can get. "Do you see your father out there, looking rather ready to stare down that giant?" she asks, with a sweet smile. "Let's wave, if he looks this way-... Oh, and the giant is a friend of mine. Sir Jeffeth! He's a Knight of Solace," she explains to the young boy.

Marian is sitting in a quiet boot, having a chat with Princess Coraline who is sitting with her. She looks quite comfortable as she sits there, her keen eyes looking in interest as the Champions arrive.

Vanora has joined the High Booth.

Sir Jeffeth Bayweather approaches the field, a bright smile tugged up on his lips. His wrist is wedged in between the pommel of his blade and the sway of his hip. The behemoth of a man saunters towards the field, bringing up one hand to wave at the crowd with a radiant smile. The large man gives a bow over to Fairen and then Talen once he arrives at the center of the field, then finally a bow in Aleksei's direction with a bright smile.

Lucita gracefully makes her way into the area, a signal given her dogs to remain back at the entry with a guard to watch over them, well out of anyone's way. She lifts one hand to give a little wave to some of the people she knows, a little smile accompanying the gesture. She approaches Grazia. "Might I join you, Duchess?"

Cora is equally comfortable chatting to Marian, rather happily watching people arrive.

Still cutting a somewhat dark figure as she moves onto the grounds, Appolonia gives a curious glance around before she silently makes her way toward a place to seat. As she passes any familiar faces there are nods or stiff approximation of a curtsey if station demands such formality but largely she looks for a seat not covered in snow or wet and then settles in to watch silently.

Josephine is slipping in, that grand old lady with a handful of velvet bagsn fresh from tge market and regarding the people who have arrived before starting to make her wsy in.

Aleksei speaks quietly with Talen, glancing over at Jeffeth and then looking back with his brows swept up for whatever Talen says. His smile quirks, and then he nods before looking back at Jeffeth with a responding bright smile.

Jeffeth checked dexterity + athletics at difficulty 15, rolling 40 higher.


Emerging from the beverage tent with a glass of dark liquid - rum, probably - in one hand and a flagon of ale in the other, Orelia Stonewood finds herself a decent vantage point in the stands, settling in with some of her fellow Champion prospects. With considerable use of her elbows, that is. And without spilling a drop! Once seated, the blonde knocks back a hearty mouthful of rum, stormy eyes settling upon Jeffeth with a smile quirking her lips.

Receiving the bow from Jeffeth, Fairen nods his head at the man in response, giving him a soft and friendly smile. "Good to see you again, and so soon." He observes, making his way over towards where Grazia is seated and inclining his head at her as well, positioning himself on a seat next to her. Though he then does spy Talen, inclining his head at him as well. "Prince Talen."

Talen leans back from speaking with Aleksei and then looks to Vanora, saying mildly, in answer to whatever she says, "You're not wrong." Then, for Fairen, "May Gloria decide the right of our minor quarrel, my lord. Good luck to you and your Champion."

Fairen has left the Quiet Booth.

Fairen has joined the High Booth.

Talen has joined the High Booth.

The big man takes out his blade and sets it on the ground, bending over to gingerly lay it on the grass. Jeffeth then takes a step back, bows to the crowd before doing a backflip. A quick and simple thing, which has his cloak and hood whipping around and trying to strangle him, but he lands all the same, Jeffeth delivers another bow to the crowd before tucking his toe under the blade and with his foot flicking it up, before catching it with one hand. Then he turns to Aleksei and gives a nod. He's ready. "May we honor Gloria today."

"Thank you. And to you as well, your Highness." Fairen offers simply back to the Velenosa Prince.

Passing byn Josephine looks to Vanora and then down to the pendant that hangs around her neck. "Not bold at all my Lady" There is a brief curtsy to the younger woman and a smile. "Would my Lady like it? It is a trifling thing made some time ago."

Aleksei checked dexterity + performance at difficulty 15, rolling 58 higher.

Amanda has joined the General Seating.

Aleksei laughs aloud at Talen's response, grinning at him a bit, and strides back onto the field. He catches sight of Amanda and Fitz, grinning brighter and waving over at them, which just has Fitz telling Amanda very seriously of Jeffeth, "He beat Papa last time." RUTHLESS. Aleksei watches Jeffeth's display with warm humor before he unsheathes his plain steel longsword. He gives it a few testing twists in his hand, and then he swings wider in a figure eight before loosing the sword up into the sky in a brilliant arc, watching it carefully, and then -- managing to not get his hand cut off! That is: he catches it by the hilt on the way down, moving with the momentum of it, to bring it back up and to a ready position as he grins at Jeffeth.

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

"By all means, Baroness Lucita, do join us," Grazia says politely to Lucita.

Aleksei wields an unadorned steel longsword with a leather-wrapped hilt.

Lucita has joined the High Booth.

Aureth shouts from nearby, "Spank him on the ass, Lucky!"

Orelia has joined the Far Stands.

Lucita gives a curtsy and quickly takes a seat so she is not blocking anyone's view.

"Yes, sweet boy..." Amanda says, to Fitz. "But each duel is different, and each done in honor of the Gods. Today, your father represents Archduke Talen. That's him over there," she says, with a polite, whole-handed gesture. "And Sir Jeffeth represents Marquis Fairen, over there..." Another gesture. "And today they duel over-... well. The reasons are vast. But have a lot to do with-..." And her lips purse. "Etiquette and perceptions," she decides. And she whispers a few more words to Fitz. Nothing that needs to be said aloud!

The fight begins, Jeffeth heads out onto the field with his blade in hand. Circling Aleksei for a few moments, nodding to the other man. His smile slowly fades as he starts to focus on the task at hand, gripping his blade. When they finally engage, Jeffeth steps forward with a strong instep, trying to take ground from Aleksei. His blade swings in a short, precise jab which goes wide. The big man's brows arch as Aleksei is nowhere near where he struck and instead coming at his side. A bellowing grunt is let out as Aleksei's blade connects with his side and Jeffeth doubles over the strike. He reels backwards, stumbling a few steps before holding up his blade quickly to ward off any followup strikes. There's no blood, but the first strike definitely /hurt/ Jeffeth. He takes a few moments, breathing deeply as he prepares for a second engagement.

Cora nods, "Oh yes, I don't do show. I also prefer efficent killing. Actually I am having a boarding ax made as my primary weapon because it is easier to kill with one strike with a pick or a nice ax than a sword a lot of times, at least I think so. I don't go for the flashy myself. And yeah I can't really understand using weapons in this way." She laughs, "Oh yes, Luca seems to be /on/ every second of every day. I don't think he stops the show does he?" She shakes her head, "I agree we are on the same page as far as this goes." this is indicated with a hand wave to the sands.

The momentum of Aleksei's sword falling from its arc and into his hand follows through all the way into their circling and his first attack. He twists out of the way of Jeffeth's, and he almost seems surprised to have managed such a lucky hit so early. He shifts back and around again, clearly wary of reprisal from Jeffeth and with a more than healthy respect for his opponent's skill -- he's not leaving himself within easy range -- before moving in again to try and strike.

Marian lets out a shout at the skilled way that Aleksei is managing the fight. It's clear she's rooting for Prince Talen's champion.


Leaning forward, resting her elbows on her knees, Orelia watches the initial strikes of the bout with uncharacteristic focus. Even her ale is forgotten.. for now. The rum is gone. It always is. But the still relatively full flagon is clasped idle between both hands in favor of paying the duel the attention it deserves. Yes, the blonde with the troublemaking reputation /can/ focus on something other than bawdy songs and banter, when it's warranted. There's a roar from she and several of her companions - the sort of sympathy and muted outrage only an audience can muster - when Jeffeth takes that blow. But the young lady's blue-grey eyes, in contrast, are alight with interest, following every motion avidly.

Appolonia seems focused intently upon the duel, her gray eyes moving from one man to the next. When Jeffeth stumbles she tenses but otherwise the Seraceni woman is still and quiet, watchful.

Amanda gives a soft gasp at the strike. Fitz looks curious, but not shocked. The child does not seem easily impressed or surprised. "When we represent someone else before the Gods... it is more than a person's skill with a blade that matters," she tells the child, quietly.

Jeffeth steps forward and swings his blade a few more times, there are a few more exchanges mostly producing nothing but the clash of steel or the wiff of a blade striking nothing. Jeffeth lets out a grunt as Aleksei knicks him a couple more times, stepping forward to thrust towards the smaller man's shoulder. And as his arm strikes out, that is when Aleksei is able to take it. His blade crosses over Jeffeth's forearm, leaving a gash just past the wrist, crimson immediately splaying out from the wound. Jeffeth lets out a quiet grunt, but looking down to the wound, then back up to Aleksei, gives a deep bow, pressing his fist to his chest.

"Well, Prince Talen it seems I owe you an apology." Fairen notes, rising to his feet as he observes the blood escaping Jeffeth's body. "Clearly any vagueness for the commentary of your wife's body could be nothing except for a compliment of her figure. Further more, the silly and absurd challenge to Master Derovai Voss was unnecessary and should not have been placed at all."

Maybe Aleksei is still smarting from the last time he met Jeffeth on the field and was trounced so readily by him: there's a sharp focus as he fights, the placement of his thrusts and slices given particular care as he seems to be fighting to slip past defenses in lieu of harder, more damaging attacks. Still, his brows twitch a bit upwards in that moment when his blade cuts skin, and he pulls back with professional swiftness at the first sign of blood. He inhales a breath, holding it a moment, and then he offers Jeffeth a respectful salute of his blade. "Not gonna lie, feel like I got pretty lucky there," he says with warm respect, offering Jeffeth his hand.

Marian stands on her feet from where she stands and claps loudly at the sight of first blood being drawn. She yells into the crowd, "Well fought!" Making sure to honor both men's efforts today. She also makes a salute to Prince Talen for his Champion winning the day. Then she smiles as Fairen offers his apology.

Marian is overheard praising Aleksei: For a well-earned victory

Cora also stands and applauds, "Very well fought, nicely done!" She nods appreciating the fantastic fight.

Marian is overheard praising Talen: You chose your Champion wisely

Amanda is overheard praising Aleksei: The victor!

Amanda is overheard praising Jeffeth: A masterful swordsman!

Marian is overheard praising Jeffeth: Well fought

Aleksei is overheard praising Jeffeth: One of the best I ever face in the ring.

The victor declared and a smile, Josephine is easing away.

Grazia is overheard praising Aleksei: In winning you make Talen owe me wine. The good stuff.

Talen rises from his seat and extends his purposefully unarmoured hand over to Fairen at his words, nodding once, simple. "The gods decide, today. The streak beaten is clearly enough adjudicaiton for both of us. Well fought, for your Champion, Marquis Leary. Let each of your enemies henceforth know a loss, if it is just. The matter is settled. My wife's figure is unambigiously flattered by all commentary in the Whites adn you shall remember the lesson not to issue duels to commoners, then."

Lucita claps as the duel ends. "Well fought, the both of you!"

"Well fought," Appolonia says as she makes to finally rise from her seat, checking the back of her coat for any wetness on the garment before she lends applause. That done, a hand rises to tuck a errant strand of ebony hair back behind her ear.


There's a ripple of applause for both competitors from the gathering of prospects in the stands, with a particularly piercing shepherd's whistle offered by Orelia herself somewhere in the clamour. Though she sets down her ale in order to clap heartily, it's soon back in hand and she rises in a smooth, singular motion; a hand sweeping back the drape of her longcoat behind the pommel of the blade at her hip. Force of habit. Taking a lengthy sip - rendering herself with a fetching frothy moustache - the blonde descends the stands toward the barrier of the ring itself, blue eyes roaming the crowds and the fine, upper reaches of nobility who shout their support. Think what you will of duels - it's quite an atmosphere!

Jeffeth checked strength + athletics at difficulty 15, rolling 52 higher.

Talen has left the High Booth.

Talen promptly tromps down from the High Booth and towards the field, moving towards Aleksei, to meet him and his challenger-- Jeffeth-- for a few quieter words.

Amanda is overheard praising Talen: A man who stands boldly for the sacred art of dueling!

Talen has joined the Field.

Vanora has left the High Booth.

Jeffeth winces down at the blood leaking down at his arm before looking up at Aleksei. He produces up a warm smile and brings up his blade in return salute. He then sheathes his blade, and goes into another deep bow to Aleksei. The big man then turns to the crowd and motions to Aleksei with one (the nonbleeding one) arm. A bright smile is given before Jeffeth, vaults forward to lifte himself in a handstand. You know, to really prove he's okay. It's a one armed hand stand, pushing himself up til he is perfectly straight, his bleeding arm kept up behind his back, and then he falls back to land on his feet, that luminous smile everpresent.

Halfway down the steps from the judges' booth, Aureth laughs out loud and calls, "Bayweather, that's just ridiculous. The Mercies are going to come after you."

A messenger arrives, delivering a message to Marian before departing.

"Hey, get that wrapped up!" Aleksei calls after Jeffeth when he goes and starts /handstanding/, even if he's not putting weight on his bleeding arm. And then he looks over to Talen on his approach, offering a smile as he wipes down his sword and sheathes it with an ear for whatever the Archduke has come over to say.

Amanda gives a polite applause for Jeffeth's showboating. She's smirking, letting amusement and a touch of affection show in her eyes. Of course, she does glance over toward the booth. "Your uncle Aureth over there, you see? Blessed Aureth, to me." That's said to Fitz.

"Yes. In anycase, it was a pleasure to meet you." Fairen notes, inclining his head at the Velenosa Prince.

Marian notices that folks are heading out and gives Coraline a smile, "I should head off, I do have some paperwork I need to take care of before it gets too late." She gives her friend a smile and then starts to make her way down to leave the grounds.

Grazia stands as well, drifting down from her seat and giving the toddler a wide berth. It's probably filthy. One never knows.

"Of course, thank you for all of your help. I look forward to more discussions on war and it's uses." she grins, "Might even learn a thing or two new to discuss before hand." She gives Marian a smile, "Take care."

Prince Biscuit, the seadog puppy leaves, following Hella.

Marian has left the Quiet Booth.

Ender, a Silver Gyrfalcon, Ursa leave, following Marian.

Coraline has left the Quiet Booth.

3 Thrax Guards, Freja the long suffering leave, following Coraline.


There's a broad grin from Orelia, beneath the shade of her hood, in response to Jeffeth's antics. But otherwise, she's just skirting the arena with the rest of the crowd, swept along with her companions toward the beverage tent. Because why not, eh?

Orelia has left the Far Stands.

Talen seems content to round out the last few moments in the grounds with talking and responding to the Champions before he nods to those present and departs himself, armoured retinue in tow.