Serafine snorts. "I like it."

Cara has left the Far Stands.

Cara has joined the Quiet Booth.

Kima observes those upon the field with her. In particular, Sir Preston when he kneels to pray. She neither joins him nor mocks his effort. When he finishes, her gaze swings away, no doubt to take in another competitor. When Eirene approaches her, Kima grins crookedly. "I would never," Kima demurs, glancing askance at the woman. "I would keep you quite conscious and with all your bits and pieces, so that you might better aid those of us who lose them instead."

Anze enters the tournament grounds late to arrive, scanning the assembled people quickly to see the various faces that are and aren't assembled. Seeing a lot of familiar faces he opts to head for the two Malvici grinning as he nears them "Kima, Eirene, good to see tha pair of yah."

Amiably smiling, Sophie tells the smith, "I have every confidence that you will demonstrate that there is more to the Oathlands' martial prowess than its formidable steel. I expect to see you afterwards, no less hale." That relayed, she offers Ida a bow before making her way to her cousin, "Damon!" More than one person can do the Oathlands proud. "Come. Make haste, no time to waste, and I wouldn't dare dream of sending you out on the field ill-prepared." Which means she's seeking to tie one of her Valardin blue silk ribbons -- this one accented with stunning white lace -- upon his person. Token bestowed, a kiss of familial affection is then sought to alight the Wyrmguard's cheek. "Try not to damage anyone too badly."

    The knightly host stands from his seat and clears his throat. "Lord and ladies, goodmen and goodwomen, welcome to the Concordal Melee. All those who wish to compete should carry themselves onto the field. Those who do not should remain at a safe distance." There is a notable pause as he waits to let people get situated. "This contest is held in honor of the goddess Gloria, goddess of chivalry and war - and in honor of the houses of the Compact, who stand together against the new threat. This competition requires you to work together with someone you may not necessarily know, and to acknowledge and complement each others' strengths and weaknesses. The team who triumphs will be rewarded for their skill, adaptability, and rapport; invaluable aspects on the field of battle."

He guestures to Arron, his squire, who shuffles forward towards the crowd on the field. "Each competitor is to pick a marble from the jar. The color of the marble will determine your partner."

    (Those who wish to participate @check luck + legerdemain at 15)

One can be tall, dark yet not so ominous, as is clear here. Salazar Argento enters the field and is dressed in matching matte black leather, with a impressively flaring surcoat, a peaked crow's hood, form-fitting onyx leather touched with just a breath of sea-blue trim. No Nilanzan pirate king dressed in leathers and wielding cutlass or boarding axe has been favored to win any tournament on the mainland; they fight by misdirection and deception, stalling while their crew sinks an enemy's weightier ship. But a few Argento scions have made it into the collective memory's hall of fame, a few Champions drawn from the ranks of their second and third sons; artful young men with gleaming golden looks and artful local attire. But Salazar cuts through here. Eldest son, he represents liege lord, land and the Lyceum collective. He stands proud because of it, as he heads onto the crowd, hand resting on the sheathed hilt of the cutlass at his waist.

Preston checked luck + legerdemain against difficulty 15, resulting in 11, 4 lower than the difficulty.

Anze checked luck + legerdemain against difficulty 15, resulting in 11, 4 lower than the difficulty.

Ida checked luck + legerdemain against difficulty 15, resulting in 16, 1 higher than the difficulty.

Valkieri checked luck + legerdemain against difficulty 15, resulting in 30, 15 higher than the difficulty.

Salazar checked luck + legerdemain against difficulty 15, resulting in 16, 1 higher than the difficulty.

Eirene clarifies to Damon "Hand mine ass unto me," the medic says with an amused snort. Unsurpringly she has no tokens of affection, but she does grin at Anze and welcome him over.

Kima checked luck + legerdemain against difficulty 15, resulting in 9, 6 lower than the difficulty.

Serafine checked luck + legerdemain against difficulty 15, resulting in 3, 12 lower than the difficulty.

Damon checked luck + legerdemain against difficulty 15, resulting in 7, 8 lower than the difficulty.

Sina has joined the General Seating.

Eirene checked luck + legerdemain against difficulty 15, resulting in 7, 8 lower than the difficulty.

Sina drops a burnished picnic basket laced with a great sea-hued ribbon.

Maximilian sighs and then steps down, to pick up a marble. "Why the hell not." he mutters.

Max checked luck + legerdemain against difficulty 15, resulting in 17, 2 higher than the difficulty.

As soon as Sina finds Donella amongst the general seating, she sets a basket down between them. She claims her seat and leans forward a touch, casting her eyes out over the field. "Have they selected teams yet?" she wonders of her Lady.

Maximilian has left the General Seating.

Damon bows his head to Sophie as she adorns him with a bit of blue ribbon, "I don't think this lot has anything to worry about from me."

Anze has joined the Field.

Maximilian slides out.

Valkieri's gaze is focused over the crowd and its arrivals when Silas stands to begin the event. He pulls his attention away from the audience to step forward when it's turn to select a marble.

Carissa, a Malvici bodyguard have been dismissed.

Kima also gets in line in order to draw the marble that would decide her team.

"Not with that attitude, they don't," Sophie lovingly chides Damon before heading for the sidelines. There, she keenly watches, awaiting the need for her services.

Focused on the battle to come, Sir Preston reaches in to grab a marble when it is his turn, opening his gauntleted hand to regard its color curiously and then look around at the other participants for a match.

Damon falls in line to get his marble.

Anze checked luck + legerdemain against difficulty 15, resulting in 7, 8 lower than the difficulty.

Salazar checked luck + legerdemain against difficulty 15, resulting in 13, 2 lower than the difficulty.

Preston checked luck + legerdemain against difficulty 15, resulting in 4, 11 lower than the difficulty.

Ida checked luck + legerdemain against difficulty 15, resulting in 17, 2 higher than the difficulty.

Damon checked luck + legerdemain against difficulty 15, resulting in 12, 3 lower than the difficulty.

Eirene checked luck + legerdemain against difficulty 15, resulting in 14, 1 lower than the difficulty.

Ida cracks her knuckles, which is probably a touch cliche for a boxer, but she does it all the same. Her lips wrinkle and she takes her turn at plucking a marble.

Sebastian shakes his head, leaning in to speak to the Duchess as he does so. "Only my apartments, which are rather messy because of that fact," he intones, "I need a space to work, and I'm perfectly fine with something I'll have to spruce up." His smile, almost always there, is a baseline thing, knowing, charming, always intimating even more than he says. "That's half the fun, seeking to improve things. I daresay that I find perfection to be dull and uninspiring."

Dominic has joined the General Seating.

After retrieving her marble, Serafine eyes the color.

Dominic wanders into the tournament grounds, hearing about the event earlier in the day. After cleaning himself up at the Grotto, he slips into the general seating next to Donella and sits quietly watching the fight below.

Taking off his glove, Salazar steps up and inserts his hand. Withdraws, bearing one marble. With ever the flair for theatrics, he lifts the small colorful ball up to the crowd and flashes a grin. Back from Nilanza for but three days, and the Stormborn is already reasserting his brand in the Capital.

Kima holds aloft her marble, a glorious red sphere. She looks for the man or woman that shares the same color.

Damon rolls his green marble in his fingers, noticing that Salazar is showing of his own green marble to the crowd. He laughs to himself softly, approaching the man, "It seems you're with me."

Anze pulls his marble from the pouch, eyeing it. Its red, he looks through the group and there is a grin when he sees who has the other red one "well then, looks like we ain goin to be fighting each other this time round huh? We'll get that bout eventually I guess. You're goin to be a fun one to partner with."

Seeing the black marble, Preston fronws a little bit: that is not an auspicious color for a Holy Knight of the Temple. Still, though, his eyes fall upon Valkieri, and he approaches, bowing a little bit, "Honor to you-- I am Sir Preston, representing the Templar in this melee."

Ida steps away with her marble and stands off to the side. She had grabbed it in a closed fist and only now opens it. One eye shuts as though that will somehow make it easier to see. Which it probably doesn't. "Ah. A lovely green much like that of House Grayson," she remarks and then glances up to see who else has procured the same hue.

    "Seeing as we have an odd number of competitors..." Silas turns to his squire. "You're up." He points at Serafine, who has chosen the fated white marble. The poor youth turns several shades of white, but sets the jar aside.

Cicero moves into the tournament grounds and takes a seat along with the other spectators. He has a fox tail on a stick that he waves about as a flag to show his home team support.

Blue. The leather-clad Malvici holds up a blue marble. "Aww, it's a little fucking Robin's Egg."

"Oh, I love to fight side-by-side with Redrains," Kima declares, wearing a fierce grin as she approaches Anze's side. "Let's make 'em scream, eh?" She reaches out to clasp Anze by the forearm. Whether she meant the crowd or their opponents...well, interpret as creatively as you choose.

Niccolo steps into the grounds with his usual group of guards. Once inside, he lifts a hand, and said guards all go do whatever guards do to entertain themselves while they're not on duty, yet still at the beck and call of their charges. Seeing that things are already underway, his features go a little wry and he continues past the field of fighters to go find a place to sit down.


Serafine eyes the squire that is to be her partner. Claps him on the shoulder and grins. "Tits out, kiddo. I hope your patron has taught you how to hold a sword," she laughs.

Anze laughs and clasp's KIma's arm in return "aye, i'm interested to see how this all goes. Never quite been at a tournament like this. Lets f'an win this eh?"

Pocketing his green marble (should he have done that?) Salazar strides over to Damon and offers his hand to shake, a bit of swagger in his step. "Well, the trick, Damon Wyrmguard, second son and scholar," Salazar intones lightly to the silver-haired poet gentleman and scholar of a prestigious Valardin house, "... is to put on a good show, even if you aren't a good fighter." He lifts his head up and up-nods over at Serafine. "She's the one to watch, if anything. A Velenosan princess stranded with the shav'arvani and gone feral." He pauses before pointing across the field at Kima: "She -teaches- the best swordsmen to fight. I hope you're as good with your wit and words as you are with your sword and shield, hm? A good show's all we need."

Ah. Black marble, then. Valkieri lifts his head to look about the other competitors, and his gaze meets Preston much the same time the younger competitor finds him. "Sir," he says in greeting, inclining his head a moment. "Lord Valkieri Rubino." He considers the man, lips pursing a moment, but perhaps the knight's youthful appearance is balanced by his strong frame. "I suppose we're fighting together, then."

Eirene whistles loudly to draw Ida's attention. "You n me I guess. Eirene Malvici," she states. "I'm not too fucking bad with a sword. How bout you?"

Squire Arron have been dismissed.

Kima mutters a few words to Anze, eyes on the various men and women upon the field as she does so.

Damon smirks at Salazar, "You won't have to worry about me. I've sung steel with most of the people on the field." THen he turns to face the man, "Except for you."

Ida makes her way toward Eirene and gives one of those dips of her head to denote respect. "Lady Eirene Malvici, a pleasure," is offered first. "I have no skill with weapons, but can punch the shit out of things. Or so some suggest, my lady. If there is someone in particular you wish to see pummeled first, please let me know."

Belladonna, upon catching sight of Niccolo, lifts a hand to wave to him from where she's sitting beside Sebastian.

Ida ohs. "I'm Mistress Ida Ferron, Lady Eirene. Also a weaponsmith. So I /know/ swords, even if I can't quite wield one."

Salazar wields a wickedly curved steel cutlass with plain knuckle guard.

Spotting Belladonna's wave, Niccolo allows a touch of a smile to touch his lips and steps toward her niece, sitting as close to her as space allows.

Niccolo has joined the General Seating.

Eirene gives Ida a 'you're shitting me' look, lips pursed and eyebrows raised. "You brought fists to a sword fight? Gloria help us... pick someone not in armor and beat them in the gut."

Silas wields A blunt metal shortsword.

Valkieri wields lightweight longsword with a basket hilt and falcon pommel.

Cicero has joined the General Seating.

Aksel isn't much of a Sword without the proper equipment to take part in something like this. He wants to participate, but not having armor or a weapon is going to make that a little difficult. Well, he has a weapon, just can't exactly use it in something like this. So he's frustrated, clearly but he's going to watch anyways, find an empty bench to sit on.

Anze is mutters with Kima as he unslings his blade, scanning the other teams and conspiring with his teammate.

Valkieri considers the other teams, then leans over to murmur something to Preston as he stands next to him.

"So it would seem, my lord, so it would seem." Preston can't help but grin, a certain pent up energy about the young Knight, and then he turns to regard the other contestants. He murmurs quickly to his partner as he considers.

Ida nods her head to Eirene once again. "As you say, my lady. Though leather armor isn't so bad, if there's a pair you think we'd do best approaching."

    Silas bows and steps back. "You may begin..."

Alis has joined the General Seating.

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

Anze inflicts minor damage to Preston.

Valkieri inflicts minor damage to Serafine.

Damon inflicts serious damage to Ida.

Donella plucks a pork rind from the bowl, and crunches upon it as the bruises begin to take shape out on the field.

Anze inflicts minor damage to Preston.

Valkieri inflicts minor damage to Serafine.

Kima inflicts minor damage to Preston.


     Serafine does her best to fight in tandem with Arron the Squire, shifting from Salazar to Valkieri, defending and attacking as she feels the need to. Her eyes are alight with the chaos of it all, grinning bright and feral. Valkieri knicks her twice and she yelps and laughs, turning to face him. "Bastard!" she yells, laughing.

Following her pugilistic partner, Eirene takes off after Ida and attempts to use the Smith's fists as a chance to land an attack on Salazar. No such luck, but she does turn as Damon draws into range. He swings, she parries. She can't quite manage to get around the young man's guard.

Damon's first, opening gambit attack goes straight for Silas, unsurprising as it's parried, but he catches sight of Ida attacking his team mate. In the follow through of his attack on Silas, Damon's arm juts out, punching the steel smith square in the face with his hilt as it twirls around his head to allow him to dodge Eirene's incoming attack. As he rises he swings at her, another parry, Damon and Eirene go back and forth for a moment.

Valkieri's gaze seems to fix on Serafine rather readily when the start of the event draws near, and she's his obvious target when the melee begins. He moves with swift grace towards her, sword flashing as he lands two minor blows on her in rapid succession. He doesn't laugh quite so readily as she does, but there's a clear brightness to his eyes.

Wrenching a wickedly curved steel cutlass with plain knuckle guard from his hilt, Salazar winks at his partner, Damon and up-nods at the strange young man who takes the field. That man, supposedly Silas' squire, is someone who has quite a bit of skill, or should, if he's not half-stupid. Silas Mercier is one of the best swordsmen in the realm, by experience only, and a month ago, the Stormborn scion had learned some moves from the man himself. He's stunned, however, to find that the moment he charges into combat, not one, not two, but -three- people charge him at the same time. Darkly clad, wickedly fast, Salazar takes deft steps in a circular motion, his short length of almost stubby steel - the cutlass he wields - responding like a rattlesnake defending its body. One, two, three hits, he parries, and then he circles around twice to get the better of Silas' squire to naught.

Finally, pulling back, Salazar passes by Damon and offers a tepid hack in Ida's direction. The smith is fighting with bare hands, and anyone knows one shouldn't grab a sword with tender fingers.

    This was, ironically, Arron's first go at actual combat. All his previous lessons were either exercise drills or one on one spars! His eyes dart to and fro as he frantically searches for a victim. His eyes eventually land on Salazar - he vaguely recalls Master Lazarus not liking him - so he figures that's as good a target as any. Maybe he'll get brownie points if he knocks him out! He slashes recklessly at Salazar, making all his attacks easy to parry and dodge, but he keeps his guard up and manages to evade harm. He's less useless than he appears!

Anze nods to Kima once their plan is in order, and the smile drops from his face as he grabs the hilt of his greatsword in both hands. When the round is called he eyes the agreed target, a knight he's never seen before, and he moves at the man, managing to get two glancing blows in on the young knight. There is no banter or laughing, just a serious expression as there is a sudden explosion of blades in all directions.


Ida, clearly, has never group-meleed before. Which is likely not surprising consider she's a bare-knuckled, one-on-one sort of fighter. She squares up against Salazar, perhaps because he's closest? Whatever the case, she does alright. It is her fellow Valardin, Damon, who gives her quite a punishing for it, though. "My...lord. That was impressive. Though you are a Sword for that reason...surely." She wipes some blood off and then decides to try to Anze. It goes aight. Salazar returns the favor Ida paid him earlier and she fares okay in that case. "This is quite exciting," she manages to choke out, her breath a little ragged but a big smile on her face. "My Lady Eirene! Well fought! I hope I am not slowing you up."

Sir Preston had intended to go after someone else, but with Anze and Kima both centering upon him, it's all he can do to parry several blows with a clash of steel upon steel, awhile taking a few minor wounds. His attempts to get his longsword in on Kima in return have proven quite ineffective. For his part, he is all seriousness.

Kima, beside her partner Anze, targets Preston at the start of combat. There is no rhyme or reason to it, most likely, they were standing across from one another on the field and he was as good to attack as anyone else! It seems as if the Lycene can adapt quite easily to fight alongside a bigger man, one who wields a weapon so vastly different from her own. Her movements are economical and quick.

Very, very quick.

Branan has joined the General Seating.

For her part, Sophie watches from the sidelines. When her cousin Damon soundly face bashed her cousin Edain's protégée, Ida, the Mercy winces.

Aksel finds himself getting up from seat to moving forward, stopping at the railing seperating the seating from the field, and Northman knashing his teeth visably in frustration at the fact that he simply can't be out there as well. Can't really get better at what one does if he can't ever get a chance to really get into a fight. It's an almost maddening thing to not be able to participate. Damnit, how long does it take to get armor, feels like it's taking forever. There's no challenge in simply watching, even if it's educational.

Kima inflicts minor damage to Preston.

Eirene grins over at Ida. "Hell, can't plan on when someone rushes you. I've fought with nothing more than a butter knife on occasion!"

Serafine inflicts serious damage to Valkieri.

Anze inflicts serious damage to Preston.

Serafine inflicts minor damage to Valkieri.

Anze inflicts minor damage to Preston.

Kima inflicts minor damage to Preston.

Damon inflicts moderate damage to Preston.

Serafine inflicts moderate damage to Valkieri.

Anze inflicts moderate damage to Preston.

Sebastian has left the General Seating.

Salazar inflicts serious damage to Preston.


     When Valkieri's attention switches, Serafine's does not, she goes in for a hard strike to his solar plexus, headbutting it as she's at the perfect height for just such a target. It's a hard hit, and she follows it with an elbow to his gut and a pommel to his jaw.

Damon's relentless attacks on Silas' squire are like smacking his sword against a wall, he's going no where. So at the last moment, Damon switches targets and goes after the seemingly consistently picked on Sir Preston. The poor bastard has about five swords coming at him at once. Sorry man.

Alis has left the General Seating.

Still completely failing to actually attack Kima, Prston takes several more wounds, a couple of them serious. And when suddenly *everyone* decides to gang up on him, well, he fails to protect his flank, and is losing quite a bit of blood. At this point he grunts, lifts a hand and declares, "I yield." gravely.

    Salazar versus Arron quickly becomes an exercise in futility as the men trade blows but neither quite manage a hit, to the point where Salazar evidently decides to turn his attention elsewhere even with the squire still attacking him. Well, at least he's still unscathed?

Eirene is fast, with the signature swift and sure movements Southport is known for. But her strength isn't very good so while she can land a few hits, she can't make much purchase against armor. It irritates her. "Yeah. Next time we get you a dagger," she comments to Ida, noting the woman's sound blows doing little.

Anze remains focused on the knight, and it seems quite a few other people shift their focus to the knight as well. Anze does his best to stay out of the way of any blades coming in his direction, managing to avoid an attempt from Valkieri, while staying focused on sir Preston. When the Knight yields he shifts his stance and looks at the other combatants still in the melee, seeking a new focus.

Kima remains focused on the good Sir Preston. Dodging, parrying; hardly looking as though she was exerting herself much at all. The Templar is given no reprieve, not from the Lioness, or her towering Redrain partner. And yet...

And yet...

When Salazar lands that critical blow against the young man, Kima moves to stand over him, almost as if she means to defend him from further harm.

Opening her mouth to speak, Kima is nevertheless surprised when Preston yields before she can even offer him the advice. She jerks her arm up, hopefully calling attention to someone who will help aid the young Templar from the field.

That dastardly duo - hair-tossing pretty-boy Valardin exemplar Damon Wyrmguard and his equally hair-toss-y pretty-boy Lyceum pirate prince Salazar Argento - lock stances and start to progress towards Silas' squire methodically. There's nothing so fearsome as two poet knights descending on a hapless squire, but it's clear, from their endless onslaught, that Silas' training is stone-deep, and will not yield until a stone-cutting sword is drawn. With a click of his teeth, Salazar and Damon turn, in unison, to flash swords towards the weakest man on the field, in terms of health, and both their blades break away from Silas' squire to strike Preston at the same time.


Ida manages a laugh in Eirene's direction. "Mayhap I should arm myself with a butter knife, at the least, next time, my lady!" The smith gets back to business and turns to espy Silas not too far off. Maybe his partner won't try to disembowel her. Ida's swing at Silas almost seems to land in a whole other district. A rather classic aswing-and-amiss! She then turns to eye Salazar again, but decides just as quickly against it. So it's back to the Redrain prince. Anze just as easily brushes Ida's attempt aside. It's almost galling, but the smith seems pleased as all get out. And just for something a bit different, she turns and finds Serafine. The round surely is not with the smith as the Shav'arvani Knight likely didn't even know Ida was there. Then, y'know, why the eff not? She circles back to Salazar. The tally for this last bit of fighting? Ida: 0. Hearing Preston's familiar voice, she manages to offer, "Well fought, Sir Preston! Come see me for a new blade soon. I can work better metals now." Eirene's latest words make the smith nod once again. "Yes, my lady. I'm strong, but this field is full of fine defenders, my lady."


No sooner than Preston is yielding, Sophie is darting to him, braving the field. "Come. Let me tend to you." And she is leading him somewhere safer to see to his wounds.

For all of his frustrations, Aksel still is happy to watch a couple people he recognizes. That being Anze and Eirene, which he does by placing two fingers in his mouth and blow a loud whistle whenever he sees either one of them doing well. "Well done, Prince Anze!"

When Valkieri sees Preston being focused on by two opponents, he moves swiftly to his partner's side. Unfortunately, he's earned Serafine's attention for now, and he has to abandon his failed attempts on Anze when he ends up taking several blows from her -- one of them particularly hard.

Dawn has left the High Booth.

6 King's Own Guardsmen have been dismissed.

Linden have been dismissed.

Damon inflicts serious damage to Valkieri.

Kima inflicts minor damage to Valkieri.

Serafine inflicts moderate damage to Valkieri.

Anze inflicts moderate damage to Valkieri.

Salazar inflicts serious damage to Valkieri.

Valkieri falls unconscious.

Donella has left the General Seating.

6 Thrax Guards have been dismissed.

Juliana has left the General Seating.

Anze inflicts moderate damage to Salazar.

Serafine inflicts moderate damage to Salazar.

Silas inflicts minor damage to Salazar.

Eirene inflicts moderate damage to Salazar.

Dragged away by Sophie, Preston walks with some difficulty, his expression grim. He didn't quite think he was going to WIN, but he sure as heck didn't think everyone would turn on him at once. But, he's quite near to passing out and surviving is rather important for his job security. The Dominus don't employ dead Templar.

Ida inflicts moderate damage to Salazar.

Kima inflicts minor damage to Salazar.

Serafine inflicts minor damage to Damon.

Eirene inflicts minor damage to Damon.

Salazar inflicts serious damage to Eirene.

Legend has it the Malvici rose to prominence by being sneaky bastards on the battlefield. Eirene is no different. While the heavy fighters land blows, she waits for the weaker spots and tired combatants. She goes in for the weary and bloodied Salazar but her blade is locked


     Serafine just keeps moving, eyes on Valkieri until he falls. She switches targets before the dust billows around him, moving in to trip Salazar, attacking him with focus. When Damon steps in, her hand closes around the hilt of her blade and she aims the pommel to his jaw with a swift strike.

The Dastardly-Duo goes back to back. Apparently the rest didn't appreciate that they'd come out in the lead all of a sudden. So aggro was understandably directed towards them both. A few strikes manage to slip through the impenetrable fortress that is Salazar and Damon's guards. But the hits don't really seem to have an affect on him too much.

Legend has it the Malvici rose to prominence by being sneaky bastards on the battlefield. Eirene is no different. While the heavy fighters land blows, she waits for the weaker spots and tired combatants. She goes in for the weary and bloodied Salazar but her blade is locked by Damon. The opportunity is not to be missed, and she snarls when Salazar makes his landing. "Fuck," she swears easily, laughing at the surprise.

    Arron lets out a pleasantly surprised cry when he FINALLY manages to scratch Salazar on his pretty cheek, but then Damon steps in the way before he can do more and his sword bounces uselessly off the scholar knight's armor. It appears Team White Marble may be having some difficulties...


Truly, Ida can not seem to get her fists where she wants them. Yet again, she but a fly's breath on Prince Anze, despite the leather armor he dons which she probably thinks gives her /some/ chance. Seems not. "My Lady Eirene," she calls without really looking, making her way toward another opponent. "I owe you a weapon!" The smith circles once again toward Salazar, despite the risk of having Damon take her out without much trouble, and whoa! She gets in a little bit of a shot! "My apologies, my Lord," is said and followed by a quick dip of her head. Damon scares her; it's clear on the smith's features, so Ida leaves Salazar and tries to get well out of Damon's sight. Eirene gives him a bit of a hurting though. "Nice, my lady! Apologies, Lord Damon." Lips wrinkle and Ida decides to hit up Prince Anze again. Quite literally! Again, she fails terribly. "I should know better, your highness. You siblings are renowned." An inclination of her head follows and she takes a few steps to catch a bit of breath.

Seems that with Preston down all the attention turns to Valkieri, and blades fly in from all directions at the man with Salazar getting the spoils. Of course, having got the last blow in on Valkieri Salazar makes himself one heck of a target. Those blades that all went at Valkieri turn their attention to Salazar. Anze himself focuses on Salazar along with the rest, managing to land a decent blow until he and his partner switch to a more defensive stance. There is a bit of a grunt as he as to dodge... what is that, fists? Is someone trying to punch him?

With Preston no longer a target, Kima switches her focus to his partner, Valkieri. Ah, the Lioness, choosing her target from the thinning herd. She is not the only one, of course. It would seem as though several people decide to assault the Rubino lord all at once.

And when he is no longer there, either, Kima presses on. It's Salazar and Damon, next, though when the pair begin to tighten up and attempt to defend one another. This does not perturb Kima over much, who keeps her eyes on the prize.

Now imagine this scene: Lord Valkieri Rubino, granite in flesh, is scored with cuts all over, being dog-piled by the entire field besides his partner. It's at this moment where time almost starts to slow to a halt for Salazar Argento, as he calmly steps through the whirling blades of the melee, grinning like a serene martyr on his way to certain death, and with a single upwards lift of his blade, cuts down one half of the Rubino-Zaffria dynasty. At least in this tournament.

Right after, as things suddenly speed up very quickly, Salazar is met with the slings, arrows, swords, even a few fists here and there, of an entire mob angry that he'd taken the culling blow. Suddenly, back to back, Salazar falls back, taking hits, finding behind him, the reassuring presence of the silver-haired Damon. His black unruly locks, longish and uncut from an extended sea journey, is the one thing that marks him next to the beacon beside him, Damon Wyrmguard. They hold tight in this combat and become a whirling dervish, pirate's cutlass on one end, knight's arming sword on another... The buck stops here, folks.

Well this -- is a bit of a problem. Valkieri suddenly finds himself the target of not just Serafine, and not just Kima and Anze after his partner yields, but a full five different combatants. He moves with increasing swiftness to try and meet them all, his gaze flicking rapidly and his blade flying. It's not long at all until sweat begins to bead at his brow and dampen his dark curls. He stumbles back when Damon lands a blow, but takes a breath and steps back forward. When Kima and Serafine both attack, he actually falls to one knee before he can drag himself stubbornly back up, his jaw set and his eyes blazing. He lifts his sword just in time to meet Anze's attack, only to stumble back again with his arm around his middle when the breath is knocked out of him. It's not until Salazar's blow that he falls, finally, to his hands and knees and then to the ground. This time he stays down.

"Valkieri!" A lady's voice cries from the quiet booth that Cara's been watching from, and she surges to her feet in alarm. It wouldn't be the first time someone fell more permanently in a melee.

Damon inflicts minor damage to Ida.

Kima inflicts moderate damage to Salazar.

Salazar inflicts minor damage to Ida.

Serafine inflicts serious damage to Salazar.

Salazar falls unconscious.

Anze inflicts minor damage to Preston.

Preston falls unconscious.

Damon inflicts minor damage to Ida.

Kima inflicts minor damage to Damon.

Eirene inflicts serious damage to Damon.

Ida inflicts minor damage to Damon.

Kima inflicts minor damage to Damon.

Cicero has left the General Seating.

Serafine only has eyes for Damon and Salazar, growling as she ducks past Damon's defenses and moves in to strike at the pirate. But she isn't alone, several others swing in his direction, and it's mostly luck that she gets the final, staggering blow to his very pretty face.

You know that yielding thing? It's because Preston totally felt he was losing blood a bit too quickly, and you know, dying is bad. Proof: he makes it out of combat, over towards Sophie, and then promptly passes out. Plonk.

Silas aids Serafine, finally acknowledging he was useless beyond being solid as a rock. So he does the best thing a rock can do: stand in front of Serafine as she dishes out her punishment on her poor targets. It seems to be a working strategy!

Kima continues her casual assault. Can assaults be casual? She makes it appear so; sword tip darting here and there. Poke, poke. She seems neither overtly hostile or even all that joyous. A stark contrast to her earlier days, when the Lioness was all theatrics and a good deal less skill.

Making it very clear she's no Mercy, Eirene continues her assault on those distracted by the more 'serious' fighters While Serafine holds his attention, Eirene whirls and lands a steady slash on Damon. A second blow grazes off his armor but she's penetrated his defenses more than once. When her partner lands a punch she lets out a delighted chuckle. "Just leave his pretty nose alone," she asks.

Well. Things aren't looking great. A flurry of swords and fucking fists are unendingly assaulting The Knight of Scrolls. Few hits manage to slips past Damon's frantic defense, and when they do, they're PITIFUL. A slight knick, something bruise worthy, nothing that coul-- And then Eirene hits him well and hard. With his partner now...unconscious. He's left without someone to keep an eye on his back because all of these people are horrible monsters and would absolutely stab a man in the back if they were given the opportunity. So Damon switches his sword to his left hand. His dominant hand. "You want this knock out, you bastards, come fucking get it."

Anze shifts his focus to Damon of the pair of partners, focusing on the Valardin as others seem bent on taking out Salazar still. The pool of combatants is starting to shrink slowly, but there are still a lot of blades out there.

So much for that. Sophie doesn't get very far at all with Sir Preston when the cheers of the crowd draw her attention. Good thing that she didn't come alone. A pair of Mercies head for the field to see to the downed Lord Rubino.


Ida was probably going to mostly avoid Salazar, because Damon clearly scares the shit out of her. Salazar is the only one that she's managed to really give any flicker of harm, to, though, so he is hard for the smith to resist. Plus? He started it! Well, this time. Plus he got in a good shot. She goes to return the favor and it's Damon who pops up to defend him. If she were a less brave woman, Ida probably would have squeaked. Instead, she apparently gets a little huffy and takes a swing at the Knight of Scrolls. Everybody's doing it. It is but a scratch, but the smith seems both surprised as well as thrilled when she hits Damon. She gives it another go, but is not as lucky. "You had some exceptional hits, my lady," Ida remarks loudly over toward Eirene. "I will be quite careful of his nose, my lady."

Freja has joined the General Seating.

It's at this point that Salazar makes an upward reaping cut here and there; a bit aggressive, but suddenly out of tune with the other half of their Dastardly Duo. He manages to rake Eirene - did he just wink at her? - and then falls back, spinning to help Damon with his own onslaught. But it's quite clear: the rotary blades of this well-oiled machinery are starting to clog with the guts and gore of the enemy. This well-tuned spinning scythe, instrument of the Thirteen himself for culling the ranks, is starting to slog through. And when Serafine puts the hurt on him... Salazar goes down like a sack of bricks, leaving his white-haired partner, Damon Wyrmguard, alone on the battlefield.

Freja arrives a bit late and quietly heads towards the seating.

There's more cheering when Salazar goes down. (This is what the crowd is here for, yes?) And then another pair of Mercies brave the field to get to the sunk pirate lord. Meanwhile, Sophie continues to tend to the unconscious Preston's wounds.

Serafine inflicts very serious damage to Anze.

Anze inflicts serious damage to Damon.

Eirene inflicts minor damage to Damon.

Kima inflicts minor damage to Damon.

Serafine inflicts serious damage to Anze.

Ida inflicts minor damage to Damon.

Aksel slaps his hand against the railing at the various blows that people are inflicting on each other, though really he's a big fan of whatever Anze and Eirene happen to get done. Since he's here by himself, doesn't do much else than cheer.

Silas inflicts serious damage to Anze.

Serafine inflicts minor damage to Anze.

Serafine inflicts moderate damage to Anze.

Anze falls unconscious.

Eirene inflicts moderate damage to Damon.

Damon falls unconscious.

    Their previous foe now downed, Arron turns his sight on Anze, who was looking quite hale and in need of some bruising! He still stands near Serafine, vigilantly guarding her more than actually being aggressive himself, but Arron manages to scrape Anze good when the man gets slightly careless. Not enough to knock him down, clearly, and the youth looks on in awe as the man somehow remains on his feet.


     Serafine cackles as Anze is the next for her to focus, barking a warning to the squire, who, thankfully, defends himself smartly. She slides in close to Anze, under his guard, cracks him in the jaw with her fist around her hilt, headbutts the taller man in the solar plexus using her strong thighs to push into the hit. It's harder than she expected it to be, but as he staggers, her foot catches him behind his heel and he goes down, efficient grace aiding his fall with another blow to his chest.


Why ruin a marginally not-totally-failing trend? So seems to be Ida's thoughts as she continues to circle Damon along with all the others. While there may not be strength in numbers, at least she's not alone. The first attempt is another failure, but at least she manages a little bit of something-something with the second try. Maybe that's enough, or so her Valardin tendencies might lead her to think. She turns to maybe get Salazar again, but he's no longer fighting - and then no longer is Damon, either. "A fine shot, my Lady Eirene! Well fought, Lord Salazar! Lord Damon!" Now, though, the smith needs to find someone else to hit. Then she sees Arron, so she gives him a swing. Which misses terribly. "You're off the dance card," she notes kindly enough and then glances about again.

The Malvici woman grins as Damon switches hands and salutes him with her longsword. "Bring it," she declares cheerfully. Her own wounds don't seem to be slowing her as she lands another scratch. He parries once Serafine moves off him and he can focus against her speed. Her coat flares behind her as she whirls, putting strength into a final strike. No laughter now, only a determined scowl on her face.

Kima makes a face when Anze is taken out, almost as if she'd just bit down on something spoiled when she hadn't expected it. Alas, such as life. Or, rather, battle, when one minute you're fighting back to back with your partner, and the next their head has been taken half off and all you're left with is an absurdly waggling tongue, shards of teeth, and a big lump of meet tangling your feet up.

Luckily, that was not Anze, just Kima indulging in a little nostalgia. Even so, it means a change in tactics. Kima brings two fingers up to her eyes, then points at Serafine.

There's also a wild-eyed hiss for squire Arron.

Just to freak the lad out.

Anze wasn't expecting to get a headbut from ms. five foot nothing, but, as he expected when he first saw Serafine the girl is fast. The sudden focus of attacks from Serafine and Aaron shift Anze into a more defensive posture, but its not enough and Serafine does eventually drop him with a grunt and a thud against the ground.

Serafine is sure to bat her eyes at Kima.

    Arron is properly freaked out and backs away.

Branan has left the General Seating.

"Well. Shit." Aksel may of just lost a bet somewhere after Anze goes down. Crap.

Freja quirks her scarred brow as she looks down at Anze falling. She drinks from her flask and then keeps staring.

Kima inflicts minor damage to Serafine.

Kima inflicts moderate damage to Serafine.

After a few quiet words to Belladonna, NIccolo rises, he studies the field and then steps towards the exit, gesturing to hsi guards for them rejoin him.

Niccolo has left the General Seating.

    Several deadly women converge on the poor squire, who quickly turns into a gasping and scampering mess as he brings up his blade to parry fists and blade alike! Sadly, this leaves Serafine open for attack, since her guard can only do so much at once!

Eirene mutters to Ida, clasping her hand on the woman's shoulder as she moves in to circle the final pair. Her Saik vassal is given a nod of greeting and a clear sort of non-aggression pact is in place. Clearly they have a much tougher but to crack, the guarding squire able to deflect or ward off her blows.

More downed combatants means more Mercies on the field.

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


Ida just can not manage anything against that dang Arron. She keeps at it, though, for whatever reason. Definition of insanity, perhaps. She passes Eirene and some words exchanged, Ida nodding easily. Like she hammers metal into weapons, she just keeps hammering at Arron, who keeps behaving like teflon or the Arx equivalent. "Oathballs," the smith ends up sort of cursing and then laughs a bit before studying the squire. "Oathballs," is repeated.

Kima ignores Arron for the nonce. It would just be rude to attack the lad when she'd only just called out Serafine to dance. The Lioness continues to display an uncanny alacrity, even if her attacks are not the most crippling seen thus far. She returns Eirene's nod, finally allowing the ghost of a smile to appear on her face. For those in the stands, it is impossible to truly see it.


     Serafine is laughing, but still focused, as she tries again and again to get under Kima's guard. Arron is doing an admirable job and she grins at the lad. "Well done!" she chuckles at him, ducking another attack. Her laughing stops and she presses Kima in earnest, only to get a hit for her attempts. Unphased, she jumps right back in, reckless and ready.

Freja has left the General Seating.

"This is how we do it in Southport," Eirene calls out with a mad grin.

Silas inflicts minor damage to Ida.

Silas inflicts moderate damage to Ida.

Serafine inflicts minor damage to Kima.

Silas inflicts moderate damage to Ida.

Silas inflicts minor damage to Ida.

Silas inflicts very serious damage to Ida.

Ida falls unconscious.

As the melee begins to calm, Sina rises from the benches, collecting her basket before departing the grounds.

Sina picks up a burnished picnic basket laced with a great sea-hued ribbon.

Sina has left the General Seating.

Ida actually manages to hit Arron! More than once even! The strikes do no harm the squire, in the least, but at least it's not some air flail. "Now we are getting some place!" Except not really. At all. "This is amusingly infuriating, I must admit. I suspect my knuckles will be complaining in the morning." That's not all that is going to be complaining. Arron apparently has had enough of the pugilist's shit and drops her. Hard.


     Serafine gets a knick in on Kima! Woo! She cheers at Arron as the squire continues to work an amazing defense.

Sabella has joined the General Seating.

Eirene is able to land strike after strike on the young squire but his armor is well made and her blows deflect off his armor as much as Ida's fists do. "Fuck me with a pole arm." The partner drops and she backs towards Kima. "Well damn. Didn't think I'd still be here..." She takes Kima's flank. "I'll try to hold them off."

    Fight or flight instincts going haywire, Arron decides to defend himself against his attackers by going on the offensive. A very painful offensive for Ida. What starts as a minor slash or two graduates into hard blows, and the woman is finally brought to her feet. Arron takes a moment to huff before he moves in on her teammate.

Princess Sabella enters the tournament grounds and takes a seat at the general seating. She nods her head toward the others, but appears to pause at Dominic. Her smile warms at him, "Well to see you again." She introduces herself as Princess Sabella Grayson, when it is appropriate, so as not to interupt from the entertainment. She watches the scene quietly.

"Are you...trying to tickle me?" Kima asks Serafine with a laugh. She gives a toss of her head, but given that her mane of blonde hair is tucked fully beneath her helm, the effect is somewhat lost. The fight goes one, with no one quite landing any substantial blows until Arron is blessed by the gods and actually takes out Ida.

Kima closes up with Eirene, giving the medic a curt nod. "Fight like the Duke is watching," Kima says with a fluttering of her lashes towards the stands. "I do."

Serafine inflicts serious damage to Eirene.

Eirene calls out to Aaron, "Why don't we sit out and let them finish this one on one for the crowds.."

"Squires don't yield, apparently," Kima says with a laugh.

Serafine inflicts serious damage to Eirene.

Eirene feints at Serafine, trying to hold her guard up. "Well fine, rob the crowd of a good show, go ahead. Beat up a medic."

    Arron looks tempted, but Silas gives him a disapproving look...


Serafine laughs. "A medic that's about as stubborn as a mountain!"

Silas inflicts minor damage to Eirene.

"Just give him a shoddy stitch job when he needs it, eh?" Kima teases.

Serafine inflicts minor damage to Eirene.

Eirene's taking a pounding. Serafine is a far superior fighter. She can keep the boy off a bit but she's not much longer in

Kima inflicts moderate damage to Silas.

Silas inflicts minor damage to Eirene.

Serafine inflicts moderate damage to Eirene.

Eirene inflicts minor damage to Silas.

Silas inflicts serious damage to Eirene.

Serafine inflicts serious damage to Eirene.

Eirene falls unconscious.

Damn, and Aksel's other bet goes down. Now he actually has to figure out where he's going to pay that particular one off. Can't do much else for the time being, but at least who he thought had a shot at winning is suddenly out of it.

Eirene is trying to hold the pair off and taking abuse from either side. She manages to draw a scratch off Aaron before the two take her down HARD


     Serafine looks Kima in the eye, her expression now very serious. The Gentle Death is pointed at the woman but it's merely a battlestance. "Do you yield, my lady? Or would you like to continue?"

     The Knight looks to Arron, her teammate, and grins at him. "Unless you as well would like to continue, lad."

Kima spits at Serafine's feet, and spreads her arms wide. "I cannot technically win, but as I still stand," and any could see it, the Lioness hardly looked winded, or even all that wounded. "I will not yield." She returns to her combat ready stance.

Dominic is overheard praising Serafine for: Shav'arvani tattooed princess fought fiercely.

Serafine arches an eyebrow as manners is met with spit. She simply nods. Very well then.

Dominic is overheard praising Silas for: Held one crazy melee. Very entertaining.

Dominic is overheard praising Sophie for: Very interesting melee.

    Arron looks like he wishes Kima would yield, then sighs when she doesn't. "I better get a honey cake for this..."

Serafine glances at Arron. "I'll give you a kiss -and- a honeycake."

Aksel is overheard praising Anze for: I had a bet on him but, I think he fought better than I would've.

So it is down to three standing... and a lot more down. As the combatants continue to combat, Sophie and her fellow Mercies continue to tend to the unconscious wounded.

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

Preston wakes up.

Saedrus is overheard praising Kima for: The Lioness proves yet again she is worthy of her title as the Sword of Southport!

Valkieri wakes up.

Damon wakes up.

Anze wakes up.

Ida wakes up.

Salazar wakes up.

Eirene wakes up.

Silas checked dexterity + medium wpn against difficulty 30, resulting in 56, 26 higher than the difficulty.

Serafine checked strength + medium wpn against difficulty 30, resulting in 50, 20 higher than the difficulty.

Kima checked dexterity + medium wpn against difficulty 30, resulting in 59, 29 higher than the difficulty.

Cara has left the Quiet Booth.

Cara slips out of her booth and down to the side of the field where her brother and the Mercies are, ignoring the ongoing combat in favor of those already departed from the field.

    The Concordal Melee is down to the final three left on the field. Silas glances down at the scoresheet - the winner has already been decided, barring a miraculous comeback by Lady Kima - but at the request of the Saik knight the fight goes on.

    Arron, however, doesn't last much longer. He is the first to be dispatched by warrior woman and falls to the ground like a sack of bricks. He takes the fetal position.

Valkieri was out for a good bit, but under the mercies' ministrations he eventually groans back to (painful) consciousness -- only to be presented with his sister immediately over him. He smiles, pained and humorless, up at her, murmuring something in a low voice.

Cara settles in near where Valkieri is being tended and apparently begins to quietly harangue him. There may be a little bit of arm-flicking and exasperated looks.

Anze watches the remaining fighting from the sidelines. A mercy patches up his worst wounds as the fighting continues, and he looks disapointed in the fact that he didn't do better. There is a grumbled grunt of pain occasionally as a healer bandages him. He watches between Serafine and Kima, hoping that Kima wins and still surprised Serafine hit quite as hard as she did.

Eirene has left the Field.

Dominic is overheard praising Kima for: The knight survived the bezerker.

Cara is overheard praising Kima.

The last of all those who had gathered to fight now stand within the ring. There's no more conversation, no more jesting. Kima is all business, first dispatching squire Arron before making Serafine the sole focus of her attention. She is not angry, or jubilant, she simply is.

Until she isn't.

There's that one critical moment where Serafine's defense slips, and Kima takes advantage of it. Her blade strikes true, but that's not all. While Serafine appears to lose her balance, Kima tackles her, knocking her to the ground. She grabs the Shav-knight by either side of her head, and proceeds to smash the other woman's head into the churned up earth. It's only when it is very obvious that Serafine is quite senseless that Kima stops, gets to her feet, and thrusts her arms into the air.

Roaring her victory.

Orazio is overheard praising Kima.

Orazio is overheard praising Serafine.

Damon gets to his feet when the mercies feel he's able. His sword returns to it's sheathe and he goes to collect his things.


     Serafine goes down, as she would, and when she rouses under the care of a Mercy, she grins with all the feral delight of one of the People. She's on her feet and striding to Aaron, checking on the young man, ignoring all else for now. She claps him on the shoulder and gives him a shake once the Mercies rouse him as well. She checks the work of the healers.

     "You'll be fine, young man," she chuckles at Arron, ignoring her swelling eye. "You did your master proud. You take half the pot if our points tally like I suspect they will, aye?"

    Silas simply shakes his head when Arron falls and curls up into a ball. Though, in all seriousness, the runt did pretty well in spite of his lack of... well, demeanor.

    "And with that, the Concordal Melee is concluded. Team White reigns supreme, felling four of their foes with spectacular skill. Regardless, Lady Kima Saik remains the last standing, and deserves a hearty amount of applause for her valor." Indeed, the crowd goes wild for the Saik knight triumphs over the odds stacked against her. She won in their hearts! "You all did superb and deserve to be rewarded. Seek the nearest attendant for a choice of a bottle of red or white wine. Thank you for your participation, and your honor."

Damon has left the Field.

Serafine is overheard praising Silas for: For training your stalwart Squire into a living, breathing wall of defense.

Liming but bandaged up, Preston is going to make his way (so carefully) to the Rectory to sleep for like a week.

Orazio has left the General Seating.