Jeffeth swings a giant fucking hammer around in the training sands. He looks like a dancer with how graceful and elegant he is was he moves that monstrous body with that vicious looking blunt instrument. Ribs will be cracked today.

Mattheu slips into the training center with a partial lopsided smile. A stretch as he sees Jeffeth upon the sands. "Sir Jeffeth."

Medeia finds her way here, curious and looking for a distraction. She approaches the sands - not so close as to make anyone think she is there to slap anyone! From a completely reasonable distance, she peers up at Jeffeth. "You're looking fit as ever, Sir Jeffeth, I'm glad to see you've recovered from the battle. I hear there is to be slapping?" She glances over at Mattheu, brows lifting over a widening grin. "Oh? Is this to be a rematch?"

"Hammer slapping," Jeffeth rumbles as he lowers the head of his weapon to the ground and leans on its shaft. "Aye Mattheu! Ready to win a sword?"

Kiko, a Kite of the Cloudspine, Hickory, the Deerhound, Russel, a Blackram Retainer, 1 House Lyonesse Adept Guards arrive, following Cahal.

Brother Chester have been dismissed.

"A rematch?" Mattheu glances over to Medeia with half cocked smile only to shrug with a jingling of bells to follow. "I've got a sword Sir Jeffeth." He pats at the glaive and sword he wears, "No. I'm just here for some slapping. Get some of this energy loose."

Mattheu wields River's Flood, a diamondplate glaive.

Jeffeth wields Last Line.

Cahal might be a little late to the party but he still hops down the steps and into the ring once he's arrived. "Whats this about a party?"

Mattheu wields River's Flood, a diamondplate glaive.

Mattheu has joined the fighting grounds.

Jeffeth frowns and rumbles authoritatively, "If you win, you're keeping the prize." He hefts up his hammer in a ready stance.

Jeffeth has joined the fighting grounds.

A slip of a young woman slips into the training center, a small basket tucked under one arm. She seems to be familiar with the place, a certain light spring to her steps as she moves towards the benches to find a seat to perch on. She tucks her basket under the bench, and then folds her hands in her lap but the spritely excitement dances in her eyes.

Nurie has joined the Benches.

"Then it will be mine to gift to who I feel deserves it." Mattheu chimes back with a laugh.

Cuddles, a jumpy and cuddly puppy, 1 Rivenshari Clansman arrive, following Kanean.

"Marquis Cahal, hello!" It's been a very long time since Medeia has seen him! Then, she moves to sit at the benches, giving a small nod to Nurie. There's also a million things she might say to Nurie, but she politely keeps her mouth shut.

Medeia has joined the Benches.

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

Cahal waves cheerfully to Medeia before going over and dropping down onto the bench besides her. "Medeia. Hello! Did you see the Formorians?"

2 Armed Confessors, Angwyn the otter, Mordred, Abner, Capt'n Waddles the small cock with a bell, 2 Rivenshari Clan Guardsman, 2 Redrain Guards arrive, following Ann.

Mattheu checks 'unconsciousness save' at easy. Mattheu is successful.

Mattheu remains capable of fighting.

Mattheu checks 'unconsciousness save' at normal. Mattheu is successful.

Mattheu remains capable of fighting.

Mattheu checks 'unconsciousness save' at hard. Critical Success! Mattheu is spectacularly successful.

Mattheu remains capable of fighting.

Nurie rises as the noblewoman approaches, offering an elegant curtsy. But then she settles again, grinning and lacing her fingers together gently in her lap as she watches Jeffeth and Mattheu face off. "It's been so many years since I've gotten to see Sir Jeffeth spar," she says, fondly. "Though my stars and garters that doesn't look like /slapping/ out there!" She doesn't seem offended or anything though.

Mattheu checks 'unconsciousness save' at daunting. Mattheu is successful.

Mattheu remains capable of fighting.

Mattheu checks 'unconsciousness save' at daunting. Mattheu fails.

Mattheu is incapacitated and falls unconscious.

Ann comes in with Kanean having heard a rumor that her husband was fighting and when she can she comes to cheer him on. Their son Danior is strapped on her as she makes her way in and tries to gauge what is going on and who is winning. Any that she knows gets a finger wave as she moves to find a seat.

Jeffeth engages Mattheu and is...astonishingly quicker in swinging a giant war hammer than he is with his bare fists and grappling. It probably helps that he hasn't greased himself up like a wet clutch and isn't playing to the crowd. He just start wailing on Mattheu. And - true to form - the Rivenshari refuses to go down easily! It's sooooooooo frustrating.

Medeia grins at Cahal. "I did! From a safe-ish distance." Was any distance safe at Harrow Hall? Who knows. She glances over at Nurie again, then, easing a bit, even smiling. "Nothing looks like slapping when Sir Jeffeth does it. He has warhammers for hands."

Kanean comes walking into the training center with Ann, his grey eyes looking to the sands watching the last moments of the spar. His eyes look to those who are in the stands and is quiet as he remains at Ann's side.

"It was crazy." Cahal tells Medeia enthusiastically. "One minute they were all talking about wanting to be farmers and we were negotiating that because, they earned that right once yeah? Then Three Brothers was like 'We go to war!' and we were all scrambling to keep up with them." he applauds as Jeffeth displays his mastery of the warhammer. "Oh! That reminds me. I should start collecting saplings and stuff for them. They really do like farming."

Mattheu smiles within a nod and takes to spinning after that first slice of hammer. Knocking him back upon his feet when connected. A wet *thud* leaving him to let out a laugh within a wince. Charging back to get a few small slices in on the tall giant of a man. Each swing of glaive is accompanied with bells singing through arc of slice and attempts to kick to get back. Jeffeth is fast and starts hitting at him in a manner to leave Mattheu seeking cover. True to the Rivenshari name he is hard to force to the ground. A knock to the head and he tumbles over to spin back upon his feet charging back with in a song of bells. Another to knock him to his ass where he tumbles head over rear to land upon wobbly feet and stepping with his hand in the air to gain a balance. Knocked clear off his feet to land upon his ass in skidding across sands and he waves to Ann and Danior with a grin only to look back to Jeffeth and get back to his feet where he charges headlong into the man to be knocked over and land into the sands face first. Rolling over upon his back with a spit to the air in heavy breath. "I yeild!"

Mattheu has left the fighting grounds.

"Well, we were very lucky they decided that, no?" Medeia smikes, finding Cahal's old yet familiar charm infectious. "Farming, though? Saplings? I am sure I could help in procurement - things from my own gardens, and hardier plants from Saikland?" Her shoulders lift gently. "If they'd like for any lessons on agriculture - particularly fruits and medicinal plants? I'd be more than happy to meet them properly."

"Yes, my lady," says Nurie. "But he can also do backflips all the way across the ring, so nimbly and gracefully it will steal your breath!" This too is spoken fondly, though she can't help but flinch a little when Matthew skids across the sands faceplanted. Her clasped gloved hand squeeze a bit more tightly, but she shakes her head once and seems to realx.

Jeffeth swings the hammer at the air a couple of times after Mattheu yields. He smiles and rumbles, "Well fought! The Rivenshari are almost impossible to knock down." He plants the head of his weapon in the sand and leans on the handle. He gives a couple nods and waves to the smattering of applause. "Alright! Next one in?" The rules are last man standing. So Jeffeth stays in to fight whoever is next.

The big knight catches Nurie's praise and grins, "I'll be doing backflips if I win that rapier!" He already owns it. Maybe he'll get to keep it? May the odds be ever in his favor.

Well then. Ann just stares at the field and what is going on and she has to close her eyes. Maybe it was a bad idea to come here. She opens her eyes to wince as she watches Matti and she turns as if she wants to flee from here. But Danior saw daddy and he's throwing his fist in the air as if he will cheer daddy on even if Ann can't. Ann hears Matti and stops moving as she pats on Danior's bottom. Muttering to herself, "This isn't a real battle. It's only practice." Someone might be experiencing a little PTSD. Fun.

"Anything that might live in the Cloudburners." Cahal tells Medeia. "They might enjoy that. Hard to say." he grins in Nurie's direction. "Hey." Swivelling back towards the sands the big bundle of energy that is Cahal once Blackram calls "My Turn?"

Cahal wields Cloudspite, a rubicund waraxe.

Jeffeth waves Cahal into the sands with a nod and kicks his hammer back up to get ready.

Kanean says in Ravashari, "moves a hand to touch Ann' shoulder and leans in to whisper to her, his grey eyes watch Mattheu out on the sands nodding his head as he yields. He looks to Jeffeth then back to Mattheu."

Kanean moves a hand to touch Ann' shoulder and leans in to whisper to her, his grey eyes watch Mattheu out on the sands nodding his head as he yields. He looks to Jeffeth then back to Mattheu.

Cahal brandishes his axe as he jumps down into the arena before tossing it into his other hand and bringing the hammer side to bear. Seems like this really will be a hammer fight. He's a big man too. Readily squaring off against the bearlike Jeffeth. "Go easy" he says jokingly. "I'm a dainty diplomat."

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

Kiko, a Kite of the Cloudspine, Hickory, the Deerhound, Russel, a Blackram Retainer, 1 House Lyonesse Adept Guards leave, following Cahal.

Kiko, a Kite of the Cloudspine, Hickory, the Deerhound, Russel, a Blackram Retainer arrive, following Cahal.

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

"I'll see what I can do!" Medeia tells Cahal before he's moving off to face Jeffeth. To Nurie, she nods. "He was my Champion, recently, and had faced Lord Mattheu then, too. He may not have won, but I was suitably inpressed by the Grandmaster. Always have been. I am pretty sure he could pick me up and toss me like I was a loaf of bread."

Cahal checks 'unconsciousness save' at easy. Cahal is successful.

Cahal remains capable of fighting.

Cahal checks 'unconsciousness save' at hard. Cahal fails.

Cahal is incapacitated and falls unconscious.

Jeffeth squints at Cahal, the giant with the rubicund waraxe. "That's a hell of a diplomatic tool...." Jeffeth takes a more guarded stance against the fellow giant, waiting for him to swing before finding an opening and connecting with his hammer. The hit is a little harder than 'taking it easy', and the friendly knight even winces when he sees and hears how it lands.

Mattheu slips from the sands towards water barrel to wipe off the 'sands' which he was graciously offered by Jeffeth from that hammer of his. Pulling at a scarf to wipe to his face then seeking to sit next to Ann with a wiggle of his fingers to Danior. "How is little potato today?" A small laugh, "Yes. Daddy learned how a river versus mountain should take its time versus going straight into the rock wall." Picking up Danior from Ann as he settles the child with small head of curling brown to his shoulder with a small kiss to Ann's cheek then wave to Kanean, "Ima. Kanean."

"My lord," Nurie offers with a gentle smile in Cahal's direction. Though her eyes widen ever so slightly as then he goes bounding off to face Jeffeth. "One time Sir Jeffeth and Aleksei fought topless! It was just for fun. I think they both showed off more than a little, but it certainly cheered me up!" Perhaps there's a touch of rose to her cheeks. "I was glad to see the announcement of another champion battle. When--well, the last time I frequently resided in Arx, they were plentiful. There's something to be said for that. Though perhaps...well, there are many things changing all around us, are there not?" She gasps at that heavier hit though, the gloved fingers of one hand covering her lips.

Mattheu has joined the Benches.

Cahal takes that first hit but the second sends him sprawling on his ass. He starts laughing almost at the moment of impact and thrusts a hand out in a silent demand for a hand up. "Not as diplomatic as yours Sir Jeffeth!"

Ann has joined the Benches.

Kanean nods his head, "Lord Mattheu, I see you have learned when to yield finally." he smirks at the Lord, he looks over to the sands again watching the quick spar and he winces a bit. He moves to cross his arms over his chest nodding to whatever Ann said back to him.

Ann had been debating whether or not she was staying or going. Once she sees Matti fully being able to walk and trying to rinse the sand off of him she begins to make her way to the benches and waits for him to join her. As he settles in she's staring at him to make sure he's still whole biting her lower lip. As Matti takes Danior from her the baby blows a raspberry at Matti when he's spoken to by his daddy. There's your answer Matti. Danior is spunky like his father. Taking in the kiss and she finally offers Matti a small smile in turn and murmurs, "My heart."

Mattheu lets out a laugh with nod to Kanean. "It's for fun. I'd rather yield to the mountain than to have to explain to Eshra why there's far more blood upon the sands in a playful spar." He looks to Danior in his raspberry and sticks his tongue out in return.

Jeffeth plants the head of his hammer in the ground. He looks over the crowd and his eyes fall on someone... It's Nurie. He narrows his eyes and points a finger at her. "You're next," he rumbles.

Nurie blinks just a little as Jeffeth's finger points at her. She even does that thing where she cranes her head to look behind her, to make sure he's pointing at her. But despite the fact that despite her height she has a build fragile enough the man could probably legitimately break her in half with a fingerwag one can't fault the young woman for her bravery. She rises, squaring her shoulders, and starts to make her way towards the sands. "All right, Sir Jeffeth," she smiles at him. "But I do not know how to wield a hammer," she admits. "So you might have to put that aside." She lifts on her fingers playfully to point at him. "Just to be fair. I will try my best." She looks down at her gloves. "Is it all right if I leave these on?"

Cahal plants himself in Nurie's abandoned seat. "Should be fun."

Nurie has left the Benches.

Nurie has joined the fighting grounds.

Cahal has joined the Benches.

Mattheu looks to Jeffeth as he calls Nurie as next. "I've got a dagger you can use if you'd like."

While Matti distracts the baby that is when the messenger finds Ann. A small sigh as she rises from her seat and kisses Matti soundly, "I will be right back. I should take care of this." She steps off the benches to see what this is all about.

Ann has left the Benches.

2 Armed Confessors have been dismissed.

Angwyn the otter have been dismissed.

Mordred have been dismissed.

Abner have been dismissed.

Capt'n Waddles the small cock with a bell have been dismissed.

2 Rivenshari Clan Guardsman have been dismissed.

2 Redrain Guards have been dismissed.

Jeffeth shakes his head defiantly. "Nurie Baseborn," he states gruffly. "Your gloves are stuff of legend. So you get your gloves, I get my hammer. It is only fair." He lifts the giant weapon onto his shoulder. "We have to keep the playing field even."

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

Medeia stares after Nurie when she goes to the stands, then she turns a smile to Cahal. "This should be interesting." She leans in slightly, asking more softly if he's alright.

Nurie laughs, a silvery sound that seems to be quite genuine. "Perhaps one best forgotten," she grins up at him. "But very well, Sir." Though the hairpins in her hair gleam, she doesn't reach for them either. Instead with eyes still glittering she glances about the sands, perhaps looking for a way she might boost herself to get within slapping range. She /is/ on the tall side of average for a woman, but that's not going to help against the large knight. Instead, she offers him a low curtsey of respect. "It is an honor to step within the ring with you, Sir Jeffeth. To friendships past and present, and buoying the hearts of those who remain to us!"

Jeffeth charges Nurie! "YeeeeeeAAAHHHHHH!!!!" the giant man running full speed. He brings the hammer down and misses! He stumbles forward, concerned! "Ah, you're quick, hmm?" He spins around like a ballerina doing a pirouette and swings again - over Nurie's head. He comes in close and she...barely touches him. He gasps loudly and cradles his shoulder, a loud whimper as he stumbles back! He narrows his eyes at the woman. "This means war..."

Kanean looks to Mattheu nodding his head, "Good, here was a time when I thought I have to explain to your sister why you come home so banged up." he looks back out onto the sands again watching.

"It should." Cahal responds to Medeia's words with that easy cheer of his. His eyes locked on the battle. A grin on his face. "You know theres places where managing to touch your opponent without hurting them is considered the greatest display of skill of all?"

"At least it's not over several pints like it was back upon the river" Mattheu laughs as he watches Jeffeth charge after Nurie. Giving a small bounce to child who is still in a fight to give a better raspberry.

"Really?" Medeia seems intrigued by the information Cahal just shared. "I suppose that would show prowess, no? Perfect control, precision, restraint even. Hm." She nods slowly, letting that idea roll around as she looks at Jeffeth and Nurie.

"Yeah." Cahal says to Medeia. "To get past all your opponents efforts to kill you and just tap them. It's like the grandest of f u's. You'd be dead if I wanted. But I don't."

No matter how much she might trust Jeffeth, in truth, having the Grandmaster charging towards you in full bellow is intimidating nevertheless! She freezes into place, which probably seems more brave than it actually is (especially if one can't see that her eyes close!), though when that hammer hits the ground near her, the vibrations spur her further in action. When she adds to the motion of the swing at her head by ducking, at least this time she joins him in a pirouette--her spring skirts made for that kind of flow at least, fanning out like petals of a blossoming flower. She tries to aim for a slap then when his face is low enough--but the man is turning with a grace that seems unfair for one of his size and momentum, and her hand sails harmlessly past his rear instead. Luckily for him! The baseborn woman laughs, though, and throws herself into the fray--apparently now engaging in a bit of an (unsuccessful) attempt at touch-tag. Not insulting him by not trying her best! She knows enough to not attempt to knock at his arms, but occasionally darts in at his legs. If anything, the exercise and appreciation for Jeffeth's skill peels a weight off of her, lending her a lightness that probably hasn't been there for many more years still.

Mattheu looks over to Cahal in his explanation of the fight without touching. "Now that sounds a fun game to play."

Ann comes back after dealing with business and finds her seat again. "Who's fighting now?" She asks in general.

Ann has joined the Benches.

Jeffeth checks willpower and survival at impossible. Jeffeth DONE GOOFED!!!111

Jeffeth is livid that he was harmed by Nurie's fabled battle gloves! He holds his axe with two hands and points his brow at her, glaring. He scrapes the ground beneath him with his feet like a bull in earnest. Then he charges while bellowing out a deafening wail that reverberates throughout the center. He swings hard, and fast - the hammer coming just a centimeter from Nurie's nose. The momentum carries him forward and then, he freezes. His face within easy reach of Nurie. He just waits there...

"Come on," he murmurs out the side of his mouth. "Slap me..."

When she does, he drops the hammer in dramatic fashion! He goes upright and jumps back with arms and legs out like an 'X' in a grossly exaggerated fashion! His body corkscrews in the air, followed by three back hand springs and a back flip to land with a loud thump on his back - his body consumed in a thick cloud of dust.

The bull of solace is down! His arms and legs twitch in the over the top fashion as he groans for his mother.

Cahal whistles when Jeffeth goes down. "Amazing! Amazing fight Nurie!"

A gaggle of physicians and mercies trot onto the field, "hup hup hup hup." and roll Jeffeth's carcass onto a cot to carry him away, "huuup huuuup huuuuup" as they strain to carry the giant man.

Kanean hmms, "That does sound interesting and fun to play." his eyes look to Mattheu.

"You missed the point." Cahal tells Mattheu and Kanean after a few moments. "The whole point is that the other guys trying to kill you back. Just trying to touch someone in a spar. Thats not even a little bit the same."

Cahal is overheard praising Jeffeth.

Cahal is overheard praising Nurie.

The battle bellow meant to force even dread combatants to their knees defintely causes more tremors to happen in limbs possibly already fatigued, though there's a feral fierceness of a gleam to Nurie's eyes for a moment when the adrenaline makes her feel like her back is against the wall again. She breathes in the wind from the near-strike that probably would have crushed her face were it not so artfully done. It's reflex along with obedience that has her gloved hand strike him dramatically on the cheek.

But then she has to scramble back as he whirls, and then claps her hands delightedly at the backsprings--and doesn't seem to mind at all that now /she/ is coated with dust as well. Clearly she hasn't been /in/ many fights in the ring though, because she's immediately cheering for her vanquished opponent. But then she offers a shyer curtsy to those in the stands.

Medeia is watching Jeffeth with amusement. And also wondering where all her Physician apprentices just materialized from. "Did he hire them for this?" She wonders softly.

Mattheu is lost in a game of who can do a better raspberry with child as Ann comes back in asking who is fighting, only to wave towards the fields. "Nurie and Jeffeth" Barely looking up when the man is knocked to the ground. He does look over to Cahal with a shake of his head, "Don't think I did. Everyone trying to kill each other. Can you touch them without causing any harm to them. We do a similar game upon the floatila. Wait until the dead of night and kill all the navigating lights. You need to run between ships, dash, and bounce only to use the sound of bells of those around you and upon ships. Anyone can swing a yardarm, or drop a sail as you run. If you end up in the water you've failed."

"Well now." Cahal says with a grin. "That does sound like fun." He bounces back up to his feet. "Looks like the shows over. See you around."

Cahal has left the Benches.

Kanean smirks as he not thought about that game in a while, he nods to Cahal then looking to Mattheu and the baby. "We should do that some time."

After some minutes, Jeffeth hobbles back into view with a limp and a sling. He takes the diamondplate rapier and rewards it to today's victor, "Nurie Baseborn!"

Medeia applauds Nurie and then quietly slips out.

Medeia has left the Benches.

2 Saik Guard, Celina, a dutiful physician's assistant, Giancarlo, a cooper and prize-fighter leave, following Medeia.

Nurie's cheeks redden again, though there's a veil of sorts that slips over her expression for a moment. But then she offers another curtsy to the Solace Grandmaster, rising on her tiptoes to murmur something softly to him before accepting the prize. "Thank you, Sir Jeffeth. You are an inspiration. Thank you, both for what you do for Arvum, but also for your care."