Tournament of Roses 1010 AR - Grand Melee - Mini Melee 2 has started at Arx - Ward of the Compact - Judgment Green.

Teonia Redreef, Marquessa Pudding, a doughy dog arrive, following Sorrel.

Flutter, a lovely passerine bird, Joan, Merek, Felicia, Olivia, Valdemar, Ian, Sorrel arrive, following Videl.

Olivia pulls her hairpins out

Olivia wields a pair of brushed silver hairpins crowned with pink chalcedony roses.

Lucita has joined the small circular table.

Krissa, the golden, long-haired cat arrives, following Radhilde.

Kingfisher - The Osprey arrives, following Jace.

Jace has joined the small circular table.

Ian isn't especially steady, walking without his cane, and he sticks close to Sorrel as his group follows Videl to the judgement green. He angles his head in her direction and says something to her in a low voice.

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

Lucita:listens to some of the rules and the way the groups are being split for the Melee and walks along to one of the other sites to watch. She seems a little more comfortable out of such a mash of the crowd.

Videl gets her group here, waits for everyone to get ready then raises her arm to signal for the competitors to begin.

Kael's traveling along with the others to the Judgement Green, his expression becoming ore solemn with each step that he takes. There is however a vague little chin-up to this or that competitor that he recognizes, then he sidesteps and prepares with a look across the field.

Sparte is still looking nervous about this. The good sort of nerves, enthusiastic to start but unsure how it will go. His hand not walking with his staff fidgets with the Token of Gloria at his belt, making sure it is secured tightly.

Brogan has joined the small circular table.

Ramona - A Guard in Ashford House Colours, Bigsby - A Thoughtful Looking Young Man in Nondescript Clothing, 4 Ashford House Guard arrive, following Lisebet.

Lisebet has joined the small circular table.

Olivia does her best to stay out of the main part of the fray. It doesn't work. Sparte comes right after her and manages to send her flying with a good hit. She lands near Merek and uses the opprotunity to poke poor Merek right in the joints of his leg armor with her hairpins. Then Sparte is back on top of her. She looks around, but there is no fleeing now. She braces for the hit and closes her eyes, blindly jabbing her hairpin at him hoping to get some kind of hit.

Valdemar hefts his glaive up to rest on his right shoulder as he follows the rest of the group to the judgement green. Once there, he eases the weapon back into a two-handed grip as he looks around to see which of the other competitors have ended up here as well, his expression remaining solemn, focused on the competition at hand. After a moment, his gaze settles on Felicia, and when the fighting begins he salutes her and takes a defensive stance before moving toward her. He does glance around occasionally, to make sure none of the others catch him unaware, but for now he is intent on her...though that does not stop her from finding an opening right away. Gritting is teeth as he recovers, he fails to land any blows on her, missing her entirely until she strikes him again, and he manages to graze her arm.

Merek does take a hit after he comes to the place for this part of the competition. Matched with Kael, he lifts up his sword as they exchange hits that glance that armor or somehow manage to hit little but space. It is quite a thing. It's obvious he has little experience fighting in metal armor.

When the grand melee is started, Kael is moving to a more defensive posture. He scans the grouping as a whole, pausing on this person and that before there is a mild flex of the jaw. In the end, it is Merek that he decides upon. The other man is warned with a little up-tick of his chin, an acknowledgement of him as his target, and it is only thereafter that he advances. The blade he uses - Preyfinder - is swung and misses. In fact, that seems to be a part of the dance between these two, strikes and misses, or only glancing blows landed. With the next circle of his opponent, Kael is dipping his head. That's a respectful motion, an acknowledgement of skill.

It's hard to miss the brightly dressed Thrax princess as she attacks with a sword emblazoned with leaves that are her namesake plant. Sorrel is a fierce and ruthless fighter who goes after first Nikias, and then, when she has gotten him a bit injured, Sparte. She keeps a watchful eye on the other fighters.

Nikias had stepped out into the primary part of the fray resting his short sword in his hand and surveys the others in this melee. Not having much of a choice as Ian and Sorrel before he starts to get more and more injured from the pair.

It's clear from the way that Ian moves in tandem with Sorrel that he intends to defend her, and so it is. Ian nods in Nikias' direction, and the two of them move through the field that way. Uncertain on his feet, it's hard to tell how this is going to go, because he definitely can't do footwork -- and so it is. But he doesn't have to. Everything he does, every attack, every parry, every choice to press into Nikias' guard or to withdraw is designed to force his opponent's hand, to seize control of the rhythm of his motion and make it harder for him to get past the web of steel he weaves around Sorrel. His skill with a blade, at least for those who know what they're looking at, is breathtaking. He's holding Nikias off pretty handily, until Sparte comes charging in. To his credit, he turns and is able to parry, but the heavy stave just powers right through his guard, and he takes a pretty good blow to the left shoulder.

The great roar and clash. Although in advance there's the salutes, the signs of respect and acknowledgment for her fellow competitors... once the signal comes Felicia doesn't hesitate. The former King's Own unlike her former self in blackened steel with a decidedly deathly theme. At Valdemar's salute there's a respectful dip of her skull crest and a salute in return. The redhead's got a weather eye on the rest of the battle, but he's definitely got the respect of the lion's share of her attention.

Once the fighting is underway, Sparte's nerves turn away from fidgeting to enthusiasm. He dires right in, giving Olivia a quick jab with his staff when she starts to close with him and keeping up a decent exchange with her. "This is exciting, isn't it? Not a proper fray if we just pair off." With a sudden jerk and a dip that looks like he might've just evaded one of Olivia's swings, he gets up into Ian's space and slides a strike right along Ian's guard. There is a brief laugh and a dip back as that draws Sorrel and Ian's attention to him, leaving him defending from two sides. "This is more like it!"

"Ouch! There you go, Olivia Girl! Get up and keep fighting!" As Brogan notices the flailing blind jabs he winces and calls out. "Maybe not like that!" Eyes slide over to Felicia and Valdemar duking it out. "Come on, Felicia! Stop playing with him and whack him good!" He finishes off the contents of his horn to call out. "Nothing personal Duke Grimhall, but she's prettier!" Sparte getting in a solid strike on Ian certainly takes notice by the bear-man as well. "Ouch, I think I felt that. Hard enough to make me need to drink!" A key refill occurs here.

Lisebet is settled in watching, and she cheers for Olivia, well, sort of? Mostly she cheers that Olivia not get dead.

Reigna is watching the combat on the edge of the bench she is perched on under the small triage tent. She is clearly keeping her eyes on Kael, though as the fighting continues, her attention is pulled away more frequently to watch Ian, Olivia and Nikias with increasing concern.

Cabbit, a nub-tailed tabby cat, Laudine, a stern middle-aged maidservant, 2 Whitehawk Guards arrive, following Tabitha.

Cabbit, a nub-tailed tabby cat, Laudine, a stern middle-aged maidservant, 2 Whitehawk Guards leave, following Tabitha.

Cabbit, a nub-tailed tabby cat, Laudine, a stern middle-aged maidservant, 2 Whitehawk Guards arrive, following Tabitha.

Cabbit, a nub-tailed tabby cat, Laudine, a stern middle-aged maidservant, 2 Whitehawk Guards leave, following Tabitha.

Pharamond has joined the small circular table.

Sorrel was apparently fighting just a little too aggressively, and Sparte has gotten through her guard. She continues to beat on him, though, working in little hits here and there, even while others duel it out.

Nikias continues to push Ian until Olivia stepped in and attacked the man. Turning away from Ian since his attention seems to be on somebody else now anyways Nikias engages Olivia although his sword fails to find any sort of opening in her armor.

As the melee continues, Kael remains on his target. They appear to be an evenly matched pair, after all. Another swift maneuver, a strike of his blade that finally finds purchase but the angle is wrong and the damage done is laughable at best. Fittingly, the same is done in turn, for a clumsy maneuver on Kael's part has Merek's blade glancing off of his armor. Kael grunts slightly, an acknowledgement, and then steps in a half-circle to try to advance to his opponent from another angle.

There's only the tilt of Felicia's head to suggest that she head Brogan call out. Certainly right now she doesn't dare take more than a glance away from Valdemar. The toothy grin given the Duke along with a few slow nods one of respect for the mans prowess and wariness of that glaive. The sound of laughter from her helm a little tinny but decidedly entertained.

Olivia does her best to stay out of the way this time. She ducks and dodges. She hears Brogan cheer her on and she gets distracted for a moment. She turns and smiles. Then an errant weapon comes flying at her face. An audible ACK! can be heard as she ducks under it. A glare for Nikias after that near miss. Too bad she can't find an open spot for that sharp little hairpin.

Yes, Sparte has drawn Sorrel and Ian's attention. So much so that the fight with Olivia pretty much gets cut off. He still has his two on one battle, just with slightly different opponents. His footwork and jabs with his staff are quick and sure, he is giving as good as he gets, but the hits are wearing him down little by little. He can't possibly keep that up forever. Still, for the moment? He is having a blast, given by the laughs and the big grin still on his face. "We should do this more often!"

Ian took a pretty nasty hit to the shoulder, but you'd have to be looking pretty carefully to notice. His movements are almost unhindered, and pain only shows in a slight tightening around his eyes. He fends Nikias off, once literally knocking his sword aside by striking the vambrace of his left hand against the flat of the blade as he pivots in place to engage Sparte. But there are some things his skill with a blade can't overcome; he doesn't manage to follow Sparte when he darts around Sorrel to strike at another angle, and instead finds himself fending Olivia off. He's keeping track of three people now, four if you count Sorrel, but he looks not only calm, but at peace. Serene. Like this is where he's supposed to be, and all is right in his world.

Merek seems to be balanced in his motions while he moves like a dancer in the fight. Some techniques from the Cities seem to blend well with what looks to be a foreign martial skill. His sword is shifted about into a reverse hold while he takes a leap over the grounds, striking with fury even as he takes a glancing hit or two. While strikes abound all about them, it looks like this man dances in battle attrition with Kael, "Good skill," he then shifts his sword and pulls a shield into a defensive posture at the next strike. He's always moving, while he shifts the shield back and lifts the sword above him with one hand as he twirls the weapon to poise it forward. Just what is this man.

Bowing his head slightly in a show of respect to Felicia as they continue to square off, Valdemar manages to graze her again before another series of misses, nicking her arm. Continuing to glance around at the other competitors from time to time, he continues to focus on her, keeping the haft of his glaive low to offer more protection from incoming strikes.

Merek is overheard praising Kael: Fight!

When Olivia gets knocked down hard, Jace looks to Lisebet and nods, moving to help her to where Reigna is, but speaking to the woman softly.

Sparte checked stamina, willpower + survival at difficulty 6, rolling 64 higher.

Sparte remains capable of fighting.

3 Armed Confessors, Orva, a discreet assistant arrive, following Faye.

3 Armed Confessors, Orva, a discreet assistant leave, following Faye.

Merek switches up to balanced position while he swings to Kael, then he switches to his furious assault upon the man. He hits armor and it resounds a ding while he does each time. He doesn't look to mind a lot of the hits, he's just trying to get his one hit in, and he does, towards the finish, he manages that. For all of his skill, he doesn't have the power to hit through the metal armor with his current weapon.

Reigna is working to stave the worst of the wounds, calling orders to her various healers and delegating and moving in and out to heal those who need it most. She is in the middle of working when a runner comes, hell bent for leather calling for Reigna. "High Lord Victus needs a healer!" Reigna looks up and over to Radhilde and says, "Pressure on the wounds, neat stitches, not too tight. I will be back as soon as possible." With that, she's off at a run, robes held up to keep her way clear.

The trade of blows continues between Felicia and Valdemar, the reach of the glaive versus that of the broadsword. Felicia endeavors to stay clear of her opponents weapon, but in doing so struggles to find more than the slightest opening in his armor. The shake of her head and rueful noise mostly made for herself,"Excellent skill, Duke Grimhall, color me impressed!" she calls to her opponent.

Krissa, the golden, long-haired cat leaves, following Radhilde.

Radhilde leaves, following Reigna.

Nikias continues to attack Olivia until he manages to land one last solid blow causing the lady to yield from the fight. Then he offers her a salute before turning his attention over towards Ian again... Only to get destroyed by Sorrel soon after.

Kael's continuing with his duel with Merek, striking and then drawing back. This is a certain well-matched dance, and though he manages to land a few blows with more force, Merek's armor stands up. He, in turn, also happens to take a few strikes. That last one has him wincing - undoubtedly that is going to be painful as soon as adrenaline wears off.

At Olivia's battering, Brogan does stand up taking notice. But she's in good hands quickly, so he relaxes somewhat. Now others are starting to drop out, even his brows raise though at the mention of Victus going down so soon. It does not hold his attention long as Felicia continues to trade strokes with Valdemar. Brogan is surprised to find one hand is clenched rather tightly as he watches.

Valdemar remains focused on keeping Felicia's weapon away from him for several passes, before suddenly becoming a bit more aggressive in his strikes. It pays off, as he manages to find an opening to nick her again, patiently working on wearing down the only opponent he has faced off with so far. When she finally makes contact with him again, he focuses once more on intercepting her weapon with the haft of his glaive, even if her strike doesn't quite draw blood. "Likewise, Dame Harrow! You fight every bit as well as I've heard!" he calls back to her before moving toward her again.

Olivia hits the ground. Hard. She looks a little sore. She struggles to get up until she is helped over to the healers by Jace. She just lays on her back and sticks her arm up and gives a thumbs up.

There's nothing but serenity in Ian's visage as Sparte and Nikias bear down on him. He turns the blows with a skill that makes what he's doing look easy; he blocks Sparte's staff, but instead of directing it to slide along the length of his blade at an angle, he meets it directly and pushes. He brings his other hand to the hilt of his sword, and with the added strength of a two handed grip is able to force Sparte's weapon back far enough to open his guard exactly in the right place for Sorrel to step in and deliver a devastating strike. Then he pivots the blade on its point of balance, allowing him to quickly reverse and drive Nikias back.

Sorrel promptly takes advantage of the hole in Sparte's defense that Ian opens, and she does so with skill and ferocity, showing no mercy. It's a brutal hit that leaves the man staggering. She then turns her attentions to Nikias and takes him out with a serious blow, aided by Ian's skill.

Sparte is having a blast against Ian and Sorrel, but it is shortlived. While he manages to hold his own going back and forth against them for a time he eventually puts too much focus on Ian and leaves his guard down to Sorrel, something she takes sound advantage of. The blow sends him stumbling back, and without a glimmer of concern he gets right back into a combat footing. One that lasts all of the two seconds it takes for a mercy to start shouting at him that he is wounded. "I'm what? Oh." The wave of disappointment as he holds up a hand to signal he is out is like a child heaving the largest of sighs. "I guess I am. Good luck Prin-" He sort of drifts off in the comment, she looks focused. Rather than distract the remaining combatants he removes himself to go be tended by one of the mercies.

Krissa, the golden, long-haired cat arrives, following Radhilde.

Radhilde arrives, following Reigna.

Lisebet stands as well, eyes on Olivia. Not that one might notice, given how petite the young duchess-consort is. She looks relieved to see that Reigna has her in hand, though not particularly happy as Reigna gets a messenger and has to run. "Please, Gloria, let the fighting today be enough," she murmurs softly. She glances at Pharamond, and then over to Olivia and Jace, worry flashing across her face, though as it seems Olivia is doing well, she lets her breath out and relaxes a little bit.

Merek checked stamina, willpower + survival at difficulty 9, rolling 44 higher.

Merek remains capable of fighting.

Olivia sits up and looks around and smiles at her family, and Jace. "I just had the most fantastic dream. You all were in it... You uncle Pharamond. You uncle Brogan..." She trails off a little. "How did I do?"

Olivia has joined the small circular table.

Brogan has left the small circular table.

Brogan has joined the small circular table.

Krissa, the golden, long-haired cat leaves, following Radhilde.

Krissa, the golden, long-haired cat arrives, following Radhilde.

Merek matches again with Kael, but he doesn't notice that Sorrel has come, or at least when he does, he can't move to defend. The strike draws the blood from him in full, rather than like it was before, and as such he knows when he must withdraw. He holds up a hand in surrender, while he moves back to the sidelines to be trated, as he settles a bit to watch, "Good match, Your Highness, Marquis!" he calls to the two also.

Sorrel uses the fact that Merek is in a hot fight with Kael to summarily take him out, even while Kael takes her defender Ian out. Then she turns on her friend the Marquis with a little smile to continue fighting until the top three are called, leaving Felicia and Valdemar to their duel.

Ian stalks the battlefield -- er, tournament ground with Sorrel, shoulder to shoulder, his sword drawn but the tip dipping to a lazy angle. They seem to have decided to respect Valdemar and Felicia's duel, and instead move towards Merek and Kael. Ian opens Merek's guard with a genuinely fierce hit with his sword that makes for an eerie contrast with the calm on his face, but Kael is too fast for him. And there's a choice, a split second moment of decision -- he can stop the blow coming at Sorrel, but not with his blade. Ian doesn't hesitate, and, probably knowing full well how much this is going to hurt, again uses his vambrace to parry Kael's brutal slash, but this time he can't do so with the same amount of control. This time, he catches the sharp edge of the blade. The blade bites deep, and even Ian seems to concede from the amount of blood suddenly gushing from his arm, that he needs to take a step back. He salutes Kael and Sorrel, then withdraws. That really is a lot of blood. His whole hand is dark red by the time he carefully paces gets off the field.

Eventually, Valdemar does leave an opening that Felicia can take advantage of in spite of his focus on deflecting her weapon with his glaive. Grunting in pain as her sword finds skin and opens up a bloody gash, he backs away, saluting with his weapon to signal that he yields, before using its haft to prop himself up. "Well-fought, Dame Harrow," he begins, then glances around at the diminished field of competitors before adding, And congratulations on reaching the finals."

"Well done!" calls Kael toward Merek in turn, swiftly, for there are more opponents to face. He is shifting his stance, giving that little up-chin toward Ian when he crosses blades with the man. "Lord Kennex." Now, that being said, he is starting to sound as though the battle is taking its toll, his armor heavier, and the blade also. Nonetheless, a well placed strike has him taking out his opponent before he shifts his attention toward Sorrel. Doubly so given the piercing blow that he was just the recipient of thanks to her Highness. He's wincing once more, but when the call to pause is made, he lifts his hand and greets her more merrily. "Good fighting, your highness," he manages before stepping back to spit out a little blood to the side.

Brogan shouts loudly from nearby, "YES!"

That last exchange, Felicia can see the opening, and instincts hone in on it. It's only the reminder in the back of her skull that he's not actually an enemy that makes the redheaded knight turn her blade away at the last moment to avoid skewering him entirely. But the moment that Valdemar yields she steps back, blade raised defensively to assess the field, and the state of the fight as a whole. The wobbly smile of surprise can't quite be helped, but still her broadsword is lowered so she can offer her opponent a hands up,"My apologies, your grace. Your skill is formiddable, and I should rather stand beside you than across from you." she offers him respectfully.

Sparte lifts the arm on his uninjured side as he shouts. "Good luck to everyone still in it!" He has a big grin still, even though it'll probably take him all night to get the dents out of his armor after the pounding he took. It isn't like he has people to do that bit for him.

There is a brief pause at his second outburst. Brogan clears his throat and lowers his hands slowly. "Erm. I mean. Well done Felicia, my love!"

Once the fray has finished Vanora makes her way over to her husband. "Mind if I take a look at some of those injuries before we go home?" She asks the question but doesn't wait for a response, glancing over the leather armor he wears to find the bleeding and bandaging what she can.

Felicia laughs hoarsely for Brogan's cheer, blowing a kiss in his direction before nodding grimly at both Kael and Sorrel and offering them both a salute with her broadsword. She hasn't come out unscathed, and drawing herself up to her full height is accompanied by a wince and placing of a hand on her wounded side before she prepares to follow to the next battle.

Pharamond is overheard praising Olivia: For fighting as well as she did...with hairpins

Kael is overheard praising Merek: Good match!

Videl politely claps for the the ones left standing and addresses the others, "Well-fought, better luck next time." Then proceeds to move onwards, "Follow me."

Teonia Redreef, Marquessa Pudding, a doughy dog leave, following Sorrel.

Lisebet has left the small circular table.

Ramona - A Guard in Ashford House Colours, Bigsby - A Thoughtful Looking Young Man in Nondescript Clothing, 4 Ashford House Guard leave, following Lisebet.

Flutter, a lovely passerine bird, Joan, Merek, Felicia, Ian, Sorrel, Kael, Lisebet leave, following Videl.

Pharamond has left the small circular table.

Jace has left the small circular table.

Valdemar nods his head to his wife as she approaches him, allowing her to take a look at his wounds and bandage them as best she can. By the time she is done, he is moving a little better, and asks her simply, "Home, then?"

Sparte falls in a short distance to the side of Valdemar and Vanora, giving them a friendly smile. He has one arm held low to keep the bandages from his bout in position. "You fought well, it was nice to see you out there." He nods to Vanora as well. "I'll try to catch you both another time to catch up."

Olivia has left the small circular table.

Kingfisher - The Osprey, Olivia leave, following Jace.

Brogan has left the small circular table.

Vanora nods to Valdemar. "Home indeed, yes."

Lucita has left the small circular table.

"You fought well too, Cousin. And I look forward to catching up with you. For now, though, I should probably get back to the Longhouse to get some rest and continue looking over reports from home," Valdemar responds to Sparte, inclining his head to him before taking his wife's arm and departing the Green.

Dame Marra, a limping fennec fox, Disciple Ismay, Disciple Fulgence, 2 Templar Knight guards arrive, following Ailith.

Dame Marra, a limping fennec fox, Disciple Ismay, Disciple Fulgence, 2 Templar Knight guards leave, following Ailith.

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