Laurene, a military adjutant arrives, delivering a message to Victus before departing.

Bayberry, an Oakhaven juvenile bloodhound, Steadfast, a dunskin stallion courser, Bumbling Bees from a Clement bee hive arrive, following Norwood.

Donella has joined the General Seating.

Victus has joined the General Seating.

Patrizio has joined the Field.

Alis has joined the High Booth.

Katarina has joined the High Booth.

Donella makes a show of beating the dirt off the seating gallery with a rag, and makes a nyah-nyah-nyah face, thumb to nose and eyes crossed toward the high booth as she deposits herself. With a raspberry on top.

Kael escorts his wife, as he is prone to doing. Perhaps he is slightly more attentive than usual, looking at her sidelong and ensuring that all is well with Reigna. Spoiler: it is. She looks a little wan but is smiling. That said, when they enter into the tournament grounds he squints to scan the crowd and upon spying the Valardin highlord he bows her way. Naturally a bow is offered to his liege, Duke Laurent, before the Duke's competition, Norwood (should he be present and accounted for), is additionally greeted with a little nod of the head. Onward he goes, finding a place to sit.

Norwood, who only has streaks of gray tyvm, and Cristoph are here already, and settling themselves with much whispering going on between the two of them. It might be an argument, or it might just be two dudes who have a friendship that goes back forever. Finally Norwood seems to notice all the people and stands up

Emberly is seated in the general seating, she was watching as people filtered in to watch the spar. Her eyes shift over to Christoph and then to Patrizio lightly with a little smile to her lips. The little redhaired woman looks happy enough to be watching.

Patrizio lingers at the edge of the field, as he's briefly checking that his armour's fastened on properly - there's a hint to how he's moving that it's been a while since he's been in any armour other than the usual metal set that he wears as part of his regular duties, but he's certainly not looking too far out of practice with the matter. When Norwood's moving to rise, his jade eyes turn that way, and he stands quietly at attention.

Upon Prince Victus' arrival, he's almost immediately picking random people in the crowd to harass. "Where's the old man fight?" He asks them. Loudly. Followed by a few quick directions that eventually have him following in the shadow of Donella, and settling in close to his cousin.

"Welcome! Today we will have a duel to determine if it is appropriate to call me old or if I am firmly middle aged. Prince Patrizio will stand for me, and Lady Adalyn," hello daughter, "for Duke Cristoph. So, uh, do the thing."

Reigna is happily at Kael's side and while yes, she is a touch pale, she seems in great spirits. She leans in against her husband and waves to those she sees and recognizes in the crowd as he leads them towards their seat. She waves enthusiastically towards Duke Cristoph and Baron Norwood and complains up to her husband, "But who do we root for? I mean... they are both getting up there, are they not?" She's clearly joking, her grin wide and voice lilting with her thick Oathlands accent. Hearing Victus' comment, the Keaton Marquessa laughs delightedly.

Veronica arrives not long after her Marquis and Marquessa, having come from the same place. She'll enter the grounds, give Norwood a little smile of encouragement, and offer a wave up to the high booth before making her way to find a seat near Kael and Reigna.

Glory, the Prestigious Warhorse, Doreen, the Red Squirrel, 1 Thrax Elite Guards arrive, following Klaus.

Reigna has joined the High Booth.

"Fight for your right to be old!" Alis calls from the high booth way up there, waving at both Norwood and Cristoph. And definitely not specifying which one she's saying that too. Or if it's both. Spying Donella, and Kael, and Reigna and omg so many people she waves enthusiastically. Then tugs on Katarina's sleeve so she does as well.

Kael has joined the High Booth.

Katarina is up in one of the highest possible seats. Her hands are folded in her lap in a prim and proper way, though she does lift one arm to wave to the dot down below that she thinks is Veronica -- it's a big tall dot, so probably. Not tall enough of a dot to be a Blackram. Katarina looks over to Alis when her sleeve is tugged, and completely mistakes what Alis is trying to get at: "Yes! Fight to prove that being elderly does not inhibit your contribution to society~!"

Adalyn strides onto the tournament grounds, the slight swagger in her steps indicating that she's eager and ready for the event to get underway. Interestingly enough, she is here to represent not her father, the Baron of Duskshire, but the duke who insists Baron Norwood Clement is OLD. Standing not far from Patrizio, she rolls her shoulders and makes some last minute adjustments to her armor while awaiting the start of the event. Once Norwood has announced them, she flashes a grin in his direction and steps forward to greet her fellow Champion with a respectful bow of her head.

Adalyn has joined the Field.

Dycard glides into the grounds with a wide grin as he makes his way toward the seating, offering inclines of his head to those he was familiar with and more proper bows to those he wasn't. Spotting Kael, his grin widens and he pads across to join him and his wife. He offers the lady a deep bow before dropping down near the two. "Cousin mine - it's been too long. You'll forgive my lack of correspondence I hope?" he quipped, his grin softening more to a rakish and pleasant smile as he turned toward Reigna. "My lady. Dycard Blackshore, at your service."

Dycard has joined the High Booth.


Klaus Thrax is there in support of his old mentor and the knight he squired too. On his shoulder is Doreen and he calls out. "Do not go easy on her Patrizo, Norwood is in the right in the eyes of the Pantheon, you merely need to prove it!"

"I'm not particularly certain that that's a firm counterpoint against the Duke's challenge, my lord," Patrizio says, mostly to himself, though his gaze lingers on Norwood when he's speaking the words. Though he does bow at the mention of the fact that he's standing for the baron in the matter, and turns his attention to Adalyn as he's drawing his sword, letting the dying sunlight gleam off the blade. "I'm ready when you are, my lady," he says, seriously enough, though a smile still finds his lips, before he's bowing slightly to her as well. "Shall we dance?"

Adalyn wields handsome snow-covered woodlands lit by starlight oathlands blade.

Cristoph, who is probably going to have streaks of gray before this year is over, is standing there speaking quietly with Norwood up until the point that he announces what they're doing here. Then he straightens up, arms linked behind his back. "Good luck out there, Lady Adalyn!" he calls out to his champion. Because yes, /his/ champion in this is Norwood's /kid/.

Veronica has joined the High Booth.

Klaus has joined the General Seating.

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

"...Should I be concerned that even my own champion doesn't seem to be convinced of my rightness?" Norwood, leaning over to Cristoph. "Yours seems much more into this idea."

Lady Tesha Telmar has adopted her usual arrival to events. There is a large black Highhill war hound and that's about it on company. The woman is dressed in crimson and her hair is left down today. She lets her stormy gaze scan over the different seating arrangements and she decides to stand off to the sides for the moment. Ansel or Isabeau might show afterall.

When he is getting tugged up toward the high booth, Kael chuckles and shakes his head. "Nonsense," he tells his wife, smiling to her nevertheless. Then again, HE is getting up there again. He starts to ascend the stairs and - oops, there is Veronica. "Cousin!" he says, eyes brightening substantially. "Back from Oakhaven?" This query is made with a slight pivot and shift of his attention. When another cousin comes forth, his attention shifts to Dycard and his throat clears. "Lord Blackshore - not at all. I hope you have been well?" A pause. "Ah, oops, it is starting." Kael's voice, THANKFULLY, lowers.

Kiera quietly enters and takes a set to watch the fight


Klaus observes the combat and noting the skill of both. He yells out though the likely hood of being heard is likely remote. "Small strikes, wear her down!"

"Age and wisdom!" Norwood yells, thrusting an arm up- hopefully Patrizio is like, older than Adalyn. Otherwise he might be cheering on the wrong person.

Victus shouts from nearby, "BITE HIM!"

Petroc, the most unassuming man you have ever met, 2 Sanna House Guards, Bear arrive, following Cirroch.

"Well shit, Prince Victus. Are you /sure/ you don't need that whiskey?" Alis shouts, from the High Booth.

Amari stands to the side nearer the concessions tent, so she's not rudely in front of anyone sitting in the stands. It's from there she watches, with her hands clasped behind her back, her expression pensive. The tiny goat with her also does the same, when not trying to shake off the dandelion garland she's wearing and eat it. If either have a favorite in the duel, they don't make it obvious which it is.

Katarina checks composure at hard. Katarina is successful.

Katarina doesn't scream 'Language!' at her sister so hard it makes her veil flutter. But: she sure /thinks/ it.

Donella shouts, "That is the stupidest question I have ever heard you ask, Your Grace. It's VICTUS."

Turning to face Patrizio fully, Adalyn draws her sword and strikes a fighting stance. Even as the fight is about to begin, she wears a cheery smile which suggests the thrill she gets from standing as Champion in this matter. "We shall indeed," she answers her fellow Champion before the pair launch into movement. Adalyn's eyes are latched upon Patrizio, watchful of every shift of weight as she attempts to anticipate his movements. Making no attempt to conserve energy just yet, she moves with graceful, showy motions, ducking, parrying, swiping. Patrizio lands the first touch of the blade, which is countered by Adalyn's soon after.

Emberly watches the language being thrown about and she flushes a little deeply before she grins a bit to Donella

Kiera has joined the Quiet Booth.

Sorrel looks from Alis to Victus and back, as if she's trying to decide which might make the better companion for the fight. Instead, she just where she is for the moment, watching the show.

Cristoph shouts from nearby, "PLEASE DON'T BITE HIM!"

Victus directs his voice to the High Booth. "I don't take handouts from individuals with the literal high ground!"

Cirroch has joined the Quiet Booth.

Dycard runs a hand through his hair and tosses the messy mane about as he follows the fight, leaning forward to plant his elbows on his knees while pulling a flask from his coat. "So... I am gathering we want Lady Adalyn to win?" he asks, clearly vexed by the conflicting relations between the duelists. "How is your mother, my lord?" he asks aside to Kael while taking a draw from his flask.

Alis shouts from nearby, "I've missed you too, Donella!"

As the Champions begin to duel, Cristoph hears that shout of encouragement that someone should bite someone else. "No!" and then that much louder shouting happens. He turns to Norwood, "If she bites him, I'm going to blame this on your parenting."

Reigna shouts from nearby, "Bites make for interesting scars!"

"ADALYN YOU DON'T KNOW WHERE HE HAD BEEN! USE YOUR - what the heck am I doing. BEAT HER PATRIZIO!" Norwoodabruptly remembers he is not suppose to channel supportive father mode.

Jasper, an unflappable scoundrel, 2 Redrain Guards arrive, following Deva.

Emberly candidly stays out of the biting comments, she coughs a little and smiles fighting herself not to bust out in giggles

Sorrel has joined the General Seating.

There's an equal sense of some boyish delight from Patrizio at playing Champion for the moment, even if it's against his client's daughter. A dance it is, the weave of it when he's trying to be a little less predictable in how he's approaching things, the clash of his sword against Adalyn's between the catching of each other. Her strike upon him draws a hot hiss, though not enough clearly yet to have him deterred from pressing the attack when he's trying distinctly /not/ as much to listen to the crowd's helpful encouragement and, indeed, even he can't help grinning when Norwood's clearly conflicted about for whom to cheer.

"I brought whiskey," Sorrel announces as she moves to sit down with Victus and Donella in a cheerful way.

"Someone better bite /someone/ after all of this." Tesha murmurs to herself. "You don't bite anyone though." she points to Atramentous. "If you bite through the armor that will be doubly impressive." she chuckles to that though. Maybe some scientist out there will experiment with that.

"Your mother helped me with her, I'll turn Lorraine on you." That is the threat Cristoph gets turned back on him for that parenting aside.

Cirroch arrives amongst the multiple shouting about biting and stops for a moment with a amused grin, "If I knew launching the Baron would cause this many people to be hungry."

"Eadric doesn't bite anyone," Cristoph points out to Norwood. But then he adds, "Except for that one time."

"He would if a High Lord was sitting there egging him on," Norwood retorts, moving between anxious sitting and excited standing- the anxiety when Adalyn gets hit and excited when she misses. Poor Patrizio isn't getting much love.

Kiera smiles and waves Cirroch to the quite booth where she sits watching

Donella loudly says, "SEE, I TOLD you they didn't know what to do with their mouths!"

Dycard blinks, frowning suddenly as he joins in the throat clearing and he turns his gaze toward the flask clasped in his hands. "Er... yes... forgive me. I think, ah... " he runs a hand through his hair again and turns his attention toward the fight. "I'm sure the good Duke can't be far off in his claim if even Lady Adalyn is willing to champion the cause," he suggested in an attempt to add some levity to the scene as he tries to recover his footing.


Klaus stands up and yells, putting his backing fully behind the Pravis Prince, what a shock that was. "Do not let up, the favor is yours, do not let you patron down Patrizio!"

Deva rolls in with her flask and just stares in confusion from the entrance for a while.

Patrizio's smile is, bit by bit, fading as he's having to work a little harder to avoid that blade of Adalyn's, and there is a little more of a look of measured concern when he's attempting to navigate her own forays against him to land a blow, much less the groan that bursts from his lips when he's caught by her blade. Whereas he's looks like he's a little bit on the receiving end, he's shifting it up a bit more, the change of tactics as he's evading a swipe, and then two, before he's able to land his sword on the good lady's arm, to indeed leave a mark that's left a distinctively scarlet mark.

Alis waves her flask at Deva, from way up high. It probably has milk in it. Probably.

Reigna waves a hand in front of her nose as she turns to eye Alis and that flask. "Gods be praised, Your Grace, but have you got Lowers Rotgut in there? I once took a sip from Duke Aiden's flask -- well he was Prince Aiden at the time of course, but I'd remember that scent anywhere." Not milk!

Adalyn is currently baring her teeth in demonstration of the biting technique she's about to employ -- wait, no, she's simply smiling hugely at the thrill and challenge of a well-matched opponent. A few more glancing blows are traded, back and forth, but none that draw blood until Patrizio's blade slashes across her arm. Caught in the adrenaline of the match, it takes a moment for the flicker of pain to register, her gaze dropping to the blood that has been drawn. Lowering her blade, she draws up to full height and then bows to her opponent to signal the duel's end - first blood. "Well fought, Prince Patrizio, and a well-deserved win."

Katarina checks composure and performance at daunting. Katarina is marginally successful.

Alis feigns shock, of course. "I'm appalled, Marquessa. Lowers Rotgut." she exclaims. "I'll have you know this is premium... terrible whiskey. Possibly whatever Fiachra poured in there last time before some meeting I had to go to..." her voice trails off while she looks suspiciously not at the flask.

Dycard furrows his brow, turning slightly to offer his flask to Reigna, "Darkwater rum, if you'd prefer, my lady - my lord," he said, acknowledging the couple as he tried to comprehend the duel. "So... is Duke Laurent old...? Or is just Baron Clement -not- old?"

Kael is most definitely not peering toward that flask now and with more than idle interest. Or maybe there is a hint of interest there. Surely just curiosity, right?

Katarina intercepts Alis's flask being handed back to Laurene. She unscrews it: "Marquessa Reigna, I have no idea of what you speak. My sister would never drink something to base as Lowers Rotgut. I'm certain that this is perfectly upstanding refreshment." Katarina then makes the flask disappear under her veil for a moment, and tips her head back, to prove a point. Fortunately, the veil masks her features, and the high booth is too high up for /most/ of the people present to see the tears welling in her eyes after that big slug. "...very... upstanding," she rasps, and hurriedly hands the flask to Laurene like it was burning her.

With youthful VIGOR and excitement now that no one is pointing a sharp metal object in his daughter's face Norwood launches to his feet with a fist in the air. VICTORY. "WELL DONE PRINCE PATRIZIO!"

Patrizio lowers his blade as well when Adalyn's lowering her own, and there's a hot breath before he's bowing as well, deeply and respectfully, to his opponent. "Well-fought indeed, my lady. I would /not/ want to face you with greater stakes on the line." He smiles, the blade sliding into the scabbard at his side, before he's offering her his hand. "Shall we go avail ourselves of a healer, and perhaps a drink as well? On my silver, perhaps, if not your employer's." The grin spreads at Norwood's shout, and an amused shake of his head - the cry clearly amuses him.

Reigna flashes a grin to Dycard as she almost demurely shakes her head, "Darkwater? Oh, no thank you, Lord Dycard. I could not possibly. But I do thank you for the kind offer." She offers him a sweet smile and leans in towards Kael before calling out, "There! The matter is settled! Uncle Norwood is not at all *old* merely well *seasoned*!"

Emberly claps her hands looking awestruck as she watches Patrizio make his last hit "well done, well done." she says quietly. "its always good to see him move."

Donella shouts, "Stop messing them about, Your Grace! You and I both know there's Syrup in that, and crunchy bacon bits!"

Veronica is not so high-minded that she won't enjoy Katarina's brief whiskey-related discomfort. But then she'll focus back on the field as Patrizio manages to score a hit upon Adalyn, and then she'll cheer and clap wholeheartedly. Really, she would have cheered for either.

Emberly is overheard praising Patrizio: Norwood is not old at all!

Katarina is overheard praising Norwood.


Klaus is up in his seat again, fist in the air. "Well done Patrizio! Well done. Honor in the eyes of Gloria."

Katarina is overheard praising Patrizio.

Dycard is overheard praising Patrizio.

Dycard is overheard praising Adalyn.

Alis is definitely smothering a laugh now, an arm slung around Katarina's waist. "That was amazing, truly." She's definitely not giggling now, before her attention turns back toward the duel and shouts of victory ring. "Can you manage to clap, sister mine?" Also, she makes a face at Donalla, hoping the woman can see her. Then.. then she claps for the winner of the duel.

Tesha is overheard praising Patrizio.

Kiera is overheard praising Patrizio.

Tesha is overheard praising Adalyn.

Alis is overheard praising Patrizio: Well done, Champion!

Kiera is overheard praising Adalyn.

Alis is overheard praising Adalyn: Good luck at the next family dinner!

When it looks like Adalyn is baring her teeth at Patrizio, Cristoph begins to laugh. Then he's quiet, keeping an eye on the fight with much anticipation. When it concludes with the duel going to Patrizio and Norwood, he claps his hands. "Well fought, Lady Adalyn! Thank you for being my willing partner in crime in this!" he calls out to her. Then he steps back from the baron and gives him a deep and respectful bow. "Congratulations, Baron Clement. You're officially not old."

Norwood is overheard praising Adalyn: It was a hard to watch her have a sword swung at her but I'm so happy she lost!

Katarina pauses in massaging the burning sensation out of her own chest to weakly clap. "In the name of the gods, I think that was the stuff craftspeople use to treat wood," she wheezes quietly toward her sister.

Kael's adding a quiet murmur to Dycard of, "No, however I do thank you for the...offer," with a flash of a smile. Maybe he squints a bit at his wife, however, given that the response was near similar. He snorts then and nudges her. They have been married a long time after all. Rising up in the wake of Veronica, he starts to applaud. "Well done, both of you!" he calls.

Reigna is overheard praising Patrizio.

"The duel would have been over faster had they utilized their teeth." Victus observes from his seat. "It was the pragmatic choice." Regardless, he does clap his hands together for the end of the duel. "So which one is old, again?"

Reigna is overheard praising Adalyn.

Kiera is overheard praising Cristoph.

"Of course he's not." Amari quietly announces, as if she's pleased with the result more than not. With a mild smile, she applauds the Champions before turning to scoop up Marigold and carry her off.

Kiera is overheard praising Norwood.

Kael is overheard praising Adalyn.

Marigold, a cheeky pygmy goat, Barf, the Bog Dog, Clerk Kant, a mild mannered assistant leave, following Amari.

Kael is overheard praising Patrizio.

Victus is overheard praising Patrizio.

Victus is overheard praising Adalyn.

Victus is overheard praising Norwood.

Victus is overheard praising Cristoph.

Klaus is overheard praising Patrizio.

Reigna looks up at Kael at the nudge after his answer and promptly bursts into laughter, throwing her arms around him and hugging him. Married people.

Dycard scratches his head in confusion, taking a quick draw from the flask as he stands and offers a bow to the assembled peerage. "I'm glad to see... the Baron isn't old, and also hopefully Duke Laurent isn't either...I think. I hope you will all be well,"

Norwood returns Cristoph's bow, but his grin is ~huge~ as he rises again. "I will be throwing this at every person who assumes that the fact that I can be called "grandfather" now means I can't hold my own." And as if to prove it Norwood will just shove at Cristoph's shoulder with a finger. Because he's SUPER mature.

"Don't actually bite anyone!" Tesha calls out with a laugh. Goodness. Then she sees that there is a line of scarlett on Adalyn's arm and there's an 'ah'. "Well fought to both of you!" she calls. Then she looks down to Atramentous, "Well...that's enough excitement for one night. We should probably head back to Telmar to deal with numbers...and plans for the war." she murmurs.

Dycard has left the High Booth.

Pirate, a calico kitten, Bosun Orrick, a looming Blackshore mariner leave, following Dycard.

Donella says, "I'm sure after their children are all of age and being appropriately decadent and senseless, they can BOTH be old-at-heart if they really want to. There's a lamb."

Norwood is overheard praising Patrizio: I am so glad you hit on my daughter - wait

Emberly has left the General Seating.

Adalyn sheathes her own blade, stifling a laugh as she overhears her father's victorious shout. "I think that sounds like just the thing to do after a duel such as this one," she answers to Patrizio with a nod of agreement, reaching to accept his hand. But first a detour as she turns to face Norwood and Cristoph. "Apologies, Duke Cristoph. It's official, Papa. You're not old... yet." She appears perfectly innocent and yet, it's almost as if there's some hidden promise there, an intention to cause the man even more gray hairs now that he's won this particular debate.

Atramentous, The Highhill War Hound leaves, following Tesha.

Cristoph is overheard praising Adalyn.

Norwood is overheard praising Cristoph: Always such a good sport.

Cristoph is overheard praising Patrizio.

Cristoph is overheard praising Norwood.

Reigna is overheard praising Norwood.

Alis has left the High Booth.

Sir Rhys, a Valardin Knight, Laurene, a military adjutant, 10 Valardin Knights leave, following Alis.

Reigna is overheard praising Cristoph.

Patrizio is overheard praising Adalyn: A worthy opponent, and I appreciate the lack of biting.

Deva is overheard praising Norwood: I knew it!

Reigna has left the High Booth.

Deva is overheard praising Cristoph: Sorry you lost again!