"Good, good. Archery it is then. Or close up combat, though I'm better at archery." Lou seems satisfied to get into the thick of things, for a change. She gives a nod to Sparte as he comes in. "Hello Spart," she greets to the young boy. She then glances over at Wash and Monique, having never met them, her eyes curious.

Titania has joined the Benches.

As things are starting up a bit slow, it's not a big deal that one in particular who dragged himself out for this is apparently absent. That is, until from the stands, a certain prince living up to his nickname is sitting up with sleep-squinting eyes and unruly dark hair tousled and half-covering his face. Apparently Luca the Lazy was sprawled out on the ground waiting for the battles and having himself a nap! The Velenosa-turned-Grayson prince gives a jaw-cracking sort of yawn as he stretches upward, exposing the jeweled scales of the exotic diresnake armor he rarely wears except out on the true battlefield, gleaming viper-pommels of long-hilted blades rising over his right shoulder from cloak. And only after that yawn is he peering about, murmuring while rubbing at eyes in confirmation of the nap theory. "Did I sleep through it?" It isn't clear if he sounds disappointed at that prospect or at having had to end his nap prematurely.

"Well then, I'm curious how I can apply what I've learned of naval combat to land combat. Which way is the wind blowing? Does that matter?" Wash jests. "Where is the command center to be?"

Kit, the grey fox, Brigid the Genet arrive, following Monique.

One might consider it odd to that Antonio is here- after all, this is a land battle and he's a man of the sea.. but he enters all the same, his expression uncharacteristically grim.

Sparte is a bit late, but late is better than never. He promised to be here as a substitute if anything happened to one of the planned participants, and even has a small book to read if he ends up sitting around a bunch. He gives Lou a friendly smile, though his attention turns over towards Reese. "Princess Sir, here to help. Let me know what you need to balance things out, and I'll manage." He gives a sideways glance to Luca. "I can even take off my shirt and prepare to be the evil Prince. Or the good one. You know, whichever one doesn't think they can fly."

Ian sits with one hand draped loosely over the pommel of his cane (which he has learned the hard way to keep close to him, lest PEOPLE stumble over it), watching the setup, still. He nods to Titania when she sits down. As people start trickling in, his electric gaze takes them in, one by one.

Reese seems a bit chaotic. She announces that they are moving to the training center and even sends off the Grayson servants for booze and treats. The servants are setting up a table with ale, whiskey, cake, cider and cookies even now. Reese arrives at the training center, likely with some who were at the tournament grounds. "Oh, now we can really fight." She says and smiles, seeming to like the idea of moving. It might not have been her own idea. Reese looks over to Sparte. "Hmmm, maybe you should be the good prince and Luca should be the evil prince and each you lead up one team? She then looks over to Luca. "The Lazy and evil prince. So who is all playing?"

As an agent of the Ministry of Defense, Lord Corban appears in the training center in his armor and with his steel sword, ready to participate. "I'll fight!" says the Telmar Voice, raising his hand when the Princess calls out for volunteers.

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

Sparte smiles brightly as a messenger shows up with his staff, taking a moment to examine the gemstone to make sure it is still there.

Sparte wields Knothole Stave.

Lou grins at Reese when the alcohol is set up. She goes over and gets herself a whiskey almost immediately, amusement crinkling in her eyes a bit when she does. "This would have been better for outside, warming us up when it was cold, but it'll do here too," she comments. She waves over at Luca when he wakes up.

Reese smiles over to Corban, seemingly happy to hear this words. "Thats good. Thank you Lord Telmar. And Princess Lou is using her bow." She murmurs. "I will fight if need be to balance things out. Are you fighting Prince Antonio?" She asks.

Monique Greenmarch is not far behind Corban, but the Lady is not geared to fight, though she wears leather armor. But she is bereft of a sword, and simply watches as people volunteer, judging where she might be of best use

Antonio gives Reese a nod of his head, hefting the Thraxian Reaver style axe out of the sheath on his belt. The diamondplate cutlass stays where it is. "Aye. Your dear husband has been training me, and I want to see if it's paid off." Luca is given a grin.

Reese has a smile of greeting for Lady Monique as well. "I will be curious to see myself." She says toward the admiral. "Soo teams..." She says looking over those gathered here.

"I have my steel sword if anyone wants to use it to participate," Lou offers to Reese, though glances around the grounds to include others who might not have the benefit of weapons at the moment.

"Hmm? Shirtless? What?" Luca's murmuring still half-asleep as he's pushing himself up from the stands-nap slowly, catching up a bit as he sees who was talking about it and giving Sparte a friendly sort of lazy smirk. "I'd argue history would say I should be the one shirtless in the melee, but I'm pissed still you didn't play the proper hero and catch me, so you totally can be the one without armor this time if you want!" It's not malicious at all and clearly the man hasn't got the least bit of actual anger for the lanky guardsmen, given how he's thwapping him on the back heartily as he lazily strides past him towards Reese. Leaning in to give his warrior princess wife a kiss on the cheek, he adds for her. 'Just tell me what I'm doing and who's on the other team. I'm easy." The easy lopsided grin turns then to Antonio and he's quipping that Lycene's way. "I've only trained about half the people taking the field, Toni. I expect good showings though, whatever the teams."

Luca wields Viper's Fang, an elegant two-handed Lycene sabre.

Lou wields forest shadows regal crossbow with etched Grayson sigil.

Corban wields Telmaric Longsword.

Luca has joined the fighting grounds.

Lou has joined the fighting grounds.

Wash has joined the fighting grounds.

Antonio has joined the fighting grounds.

Corban has joined the fighting grounds.

Monique has joined the fighting grounds.

Wash, unarmored and with a naive interest in swordplay watches from the edge of the fighting grounds, waiting to see how each of the other players' dispositions.

Reese nuzzles her cheek into Luca's kiss and then gives him a soft smile. She looks over those gathered here a moment later. "We might change teams later, but to start..." She says and then pauses. "Sparte is the good prince. Lady Monique is his sister who he wants to protect from the evil house. They are house evil. Princess Lou and myself are Sparte's knights. Luca is the evil prince. Antonio and Corban are his evil brothers. They want to steal Lady Monique! Wash is helping to keep Lady Monique safe." She says, clearly just making this up as she goes along. "And we fight! No actually hitting Monique with a blade, but you can touch her, you can capture her."

Reese has joined the fighting grounds.

Sparte heads off to the side of the field, working on putting his ample iron guard armor into a pile. As if he wouldn't make good on his word. "I prefer to remember that as my being there with open arms, and you dodging." He finishes getting all the armor off, there in just a woolen tunic and some trousers. He leaves on one peace of armor - his shoes. Because shoes. Walking over to look around at the people there, he gives Reese a considered comment. "I'm not really sure how me leading will go. There are better people to talk into that. Really, like anyone else here would be better. Even the sailor who communicates in potential epitaphs."

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

Reese isn't wearing her armor, she likely wasn't expecting to fight, but she doesn't seem too worried. They are in the training grounds after all.

Reese wields Destiny, a high quality mace.

Lou waggles her brows at Luca as Reese puts them on opposite sides. She brandishes her bow at him, goodnaturedly.

Reese looks over to Sparte. "You have a point. Okay, you are the brash prince, but Wash is the king." She says, changing the game again.

Monique flutters her ginger lashes, grinning around. "If you bruise me, I'll be expecting something shiny in return!"

Wash salutes. "As your king pro tempore, I feel obliged to say..." Wash announces in an outsized voice before lowering it and expressing curiously: "...what are the stakes?"

Sparte calls over to Wash. "Victory, accolades, and a Princess being cross with you if we lose!"

"Well, it must be a Wednesday then." Wash quips in return.

Luca gives a rich laugh to the teams, but seems game for it, trotting out towards the fighting grounds with gleaming steel and rubicund helm under arm, giving a thumbs up to Toni and the less-familiar Corban. "Well Toni and Cor, here's to our stealing Mo's virtue." That last cast with a playful wink of cinnamon eye Monique's direction, clearly at least passing familiar with her. Then again, Corban got a nickname and he's not even met the prince probably. Either way, the Champion duelist is waving the two 'brothers' over and saying. "Let's talk quick strategy gents. We've got a hard road ahead certainly."

Antonio nods his head as he hefts his axe, holding it across his chest in more defensive stance. "That we do." He then tilts his head, ready to listen.

"Reese, I think you really have it in for Luca when you keep pairing me with him and my bow, or against him," Lou tells her sister, with amusement touching her voice. She gets into position to help defend Monique in a long ranged kinda way. She straightens her quiver to make certain it's close at hand. She looks over at Wash, stating. "So, King... how would you like to proceed?"

Wash directs the battle line from the rear, his blunted rapier at hand, but poised for a moment of opportunity rather than en garde. "Keep your sight lines clear. Eye on the prize."

Wash checked command + war at difficulty 15, rolling 43 higher.

Reese looks over to Wash. "Well, King Wash. What do you think should we all attack the Evil Prince Luca first or should we go after one of his brothers?" Reese then smiles over to Lou. "Sort of. I did want you on my team, I will admit." She says a bit sheepishly. She then turns to Wash, giving him a nod. "Yes, King Wash." She looks over to Monique as of meaning to keep aware of her location as commanded.

Sparte waggles his staff at Luca, giving him a wink before taking a proper combat stance.

Clara puts Tournament longsword in Laurent colors in Chest Labelled 'Practice Weapons Courtesy Of House Laurent'.

Corban's brow arches at being called 'Cor,' but he lets it slide for the moment, moving himself into the little huddle. He furrows his brow, considering the tactics, looking from them and over to the other side.

Clara makes her way in as a spectator today. She simply moves benches and takes a seat, nodding her head to Ian and Titania as she does. "Good evening."

Clara has joined the Benches.

Wash says, "Target the weakest link." Wash whispers loudly enough that it is clear he means to be overheard, but not share the information. "Attack cautiously to feel out which is defending and which is assailing. Focus on the defenders first. Remember, capturing the civilian is the goal, defeating their champion is not. Remove his companions and even with lesser skill we can tie him up long enough to claim the prize.""

Monique cocks a laughing brow over to Luca. There's no response save that amusement. And then she's referred to as 'the Prize' and it's as though her ego swells ten times the size of her head. She, however, stays poised, well behind friendly lines.

Reese smiles over to Clara and then to the rest of audience. She even gives them a bow. She then turns her attention to Wash. "Oh, I was gong to attack Luca first." Of course she was. She likes attacking him, it seems. "I am have no idea who is weaker, but I will change targets." She adds.

Ian turns his intense, focused gaze from the battlefield to Clara. He looks at her for a long moment, then nods a greeting and goes back to watching.

Wash says, "Target the weakest link." Wash whispers loudly enough that it is clear he means to be overheard, but not share the information. "Attack cautiously to feel out which is defending and which is assailing. When the victory went to the Princess they won it by whittling away at Prince Victus' retinue, not by defeating the man in single combat.""

"That is true." Reese says in response to Wash's words. She seems reflect for a moment. She then lifts up her steel mace as if ready to attack.

Ian some passing thought makes a faint smile pass over Ian's face as he watches the fight set up. It's brief -- not his usual dark humor, but more like anticipation.

Lou wields forest shadows regal crossbow with etched Grayson sigil.

Lou takes minor damage.

Luca settles in after talking to the pair of 'evil brothers', grins across tot he other group once, gives Reese a wink, and finally plops his gleaming helm down and flips up the blue and purple sparkling scaled hood of his cloak over it. For a man who usually fights practically naked, Luca actually cuts a fine dangerous sight all armored out and he's calling out as he draws free the gleaming steel of Viper's Fang rather than the alaericite Viper's Soul, holding it before him in a lazy sort of stance and calling, Lenosian-accented voice metallic by helm. "Just say when, Pretties. And prepare to have your virtuous Princess plundered!"

Clara adjusts the sword at her hip so that she can comfortably sit and enjoy the combat. She didn't recognize most of the faces fighting but then... she had only been in Arx for a couple of days. She wasn't familiar with many of the faces in Arx.

Corban glances over his shoulder at Luca, crewing up his brow. That is -- confusing -- the sort of derring do that Luca puts into the training exercise. Corban, for his part, is more staid, focused as he takes a step in front of the Prince and swings in on the archer, his sword cutting into her leather armor but unable to draw blood (so to speak, given the Training Center.)

The battle devolves into a flurry of movement where Wash continually paces the edges, looking for a chance to strike without putting Monique in danger. "Archer, on your guard, defend at all costs, press forward remaining!"

Reese charges at Corban, trying to attack the Telmar Lord, but he is easily able to evade her blow. She is wearing a simple wool tunic and leggings. She looks over to Luca and sticks out her tongue at his words. "You will never defeat us, evil princes!

Antonio sticks close to Luca- they'll have to go through him first, but that doesn't stop him from barely winging Lou, his axe bouncing harmlessly off her armor.

Sparte does a testing strike at Antonio before sweeping his gaze over the field. Getting a glint in his eye at Lou getting struck Sparte shouts at Luca. "Going after the ladies first? I'd almost be insulted if you wern't about to be down a man!"

Lou raises her bow and carefully nocks an arrow. She aims at Corban, but is distracted by her brother=in-law as Luca comes in to attack her, the ranged person, of all people. "I'm sensing, Luca, that there's some unmitigated anger that you've yet to deal with over that whole patrol incident," she comments to him, though her eyes show some good humored merriment. That is until he lands an attack against her. "Ow, that hurt!" she tells him. Probably not as much as she hurt him though!

Luca's rushing along with his 'brothers' at the horde of defenders, seeming at first to make a beeline for the 'princess' Monique, but all three veering off as the 'evil prince' makes a passable battleroar, turning all three of them towards the archer instead. They move well as a unit and with surprising speed to close the distance. As he's closing in to whip his blade forward past his defenders to lay a flat-bladed thwack on Lou's thigh, he's calling out in exaguratted 'evil prince' voice. "THIS IS REVENGE FOR MY ASS!!" Yes, yes he just said that.

Ian leans forward. The slow way that he let his gaze pass from person to person before? He's not doing that anymore. As still as his sits and as calm as he looks, his gaze is animated, moving fast, taking in details before shifting. Every now and again, he'll nod or shake his head slightly.

Monique is just watchful for now-watchful and cheering on her team. "Get them! Get them all! You can do it!" She's moving very carefully to stay behind her friends, trying to stay in character, but she snorts a laugh at Luca's battlecry.

Lou takes minor damage.

Corban takes minor damage.

Corban takes minor damage.

Corban takes minor damage.

Titania has found she is lost in the fighting watching leaning over the side a bit, she calls out cheering on wash from where she is clapping when he does inflict some damage on someone!

Antonio takes minor damage.

Lou takes serious damage.

Lou takes minor damage.

Lou takes moderate damage.

Corban takes moderate damage.

"It is nice to see you again Lady Titania." Clara nods her head to the woman when she begins to clap. She pulls out a bottle of mead and begins to drink it while she watches them fight, offering it over to Ian and Titania if they would like some as well.

Ian shakes his head to the offer of water without looking away from the fight.

Lou tries her best to jump out of the way of the attacks while also attacking Corban, but no matter how much she tries she cannot seem to dodge past the sword fighters aiming for her. She gives a welcoming nod to Sparte as he starts to defend her. "I hope they don't quash you kid," she tells him, though seems to respect his gumption.

Lou takes minor damage.

Corban takes minor damage.

Lou takes serious damage.

Titania smiles looking to Clara, "lady Clara, it is good to see you as well." she smiles taking the offered drink, sipping it and handing it back, "Thank you, I am sorry I did not see you come join us. Have you meet my cousin Lord Ian Kennex?"

"He's too slippery to get squashed! But goody two-shoe princes fall all the time when they try to defend the weak!" Luca's going on to laugh a good evil "Muahahahah!" when Sparte manages to deflect his blade from Lou with staff, but she's taken by the blades of his evil brothers. He's really getting into his character clearly

"When did we get characters to play?" asks Corban with a sort of confused look on his face when Luca shouts out like that. But he perhaps has more to deal with, twisting and dodging the rain of blows on him, parrying some, dodging others, and taking it on the breastplate for yet others. Still, he keeps on.

Sparte gives a little huff upwards, blowing some of the hair out of his own face before grinning at Luca. He doesn't seem bothered by the other two getting past. "But I'm the Brash goody two-shoes princes. I take chances, make mistakes, and get messy!"

Antonio is focused on Lou here- and Sparte stepping in his way does little to deter the sailor prince, who barrels past him to smack the archer with his blunted axe. Hard.

"When Ribbons declared I was the evil prince and you and Toni were my evil brothers, trying to get at the virtuous princess mo defended by her brother prince Spar and knights Lou and Ribbons." Luca claims of Corban as idly as if they weren't in the middle of battle. He's enjoying this all a bit too much.

Corban takes minor damage.

Lou takes minor damage.

Sparte takes minor damage.

Corban takes minor damage.

Reese seems to focus her efforts on attacking Lord Corban. She peeks over to Luca as he speaks. "Sparte is our hero prince, he is going keep my sister standing and shooting at you." She says, lifting her voice to carry. She then goes for Lord Corban once again.

Wash pairs with Reese in the backfield, flanking the trio as they presure Lou and Sparte. He keeps an eye on Monique, making sure he stays in the lane of anyone who might rush her. "Steady now. Keep the pressure. Don't lose your nerve."

Corban takes moderate damage.

Corban checked stamina, willpower + survival at difficulty 6, rolling 54 higher.

Corban remains capable of fighting.

Monique cringes at the hits and the near-misses, but cheers loudly, perhaps distractingly, for her team. She casts a glance to Wash, laughing. "Lose my nerve? Never! Don't lose your sword, hm?"

Corban checked stamina, willpower + survival at difficulty 53, rolling 12 lower.

Corban checked stamina, willpower + survival at difficulty 22, rolling 39 higher.

Corban remains alive, but close to death.

Corban falls unconscious.

Wash gestures to focus on Antonio, leading the other ship captain to face him with some pointed taunts. "I heard you named your ship the Reckless. What did you call your last one, the wrecked?"

It seems that Lou is now getting downright serious as she is now defended by Sparte. She sets her sights harder on Corban, now that she doesn't have to worry about three on one anymore, and throws out arrow after arrow. Finally she helps to down him, getting some glimmer of satisfaction of that. She tells Luca, "I think you are getting far too much enjoyment out of this." There's no malice there, just a simple observation - and maybe a smile.

Lou checked stamina, willpower + survival at difficulty 2, rolling 65 higher.

Lou remains capable of fighting.

Antonio takes minor damage.

With a deep sigh, Corban knows when he's been beat -- even pretend beat. With the blows from the blunted swords raining down on him -- a crush from Reese seems to do him in -- the Telmar Lord takes a knee and steps off the field to the side. "Go get 'em, uh, -- evil pirate? Is it a pirate?" Corban really doesn't understand the roles here. "Go my team!"

"Go my team indeed!" Luca's crowing along with Corban, taking a slash at Lou again and again, but repeatedly getting fouled by a dodgey goody two-shoes Sparte-prince. "Gah! I forgot how proud I am of your footwork, Spar! Stop it though so I can put down one of your knights, damnit!"

Sparte laughs a bit as the melee continues, getting the staff moving with more sureness of motion as he knocks more and more blows away from Lou. "Now this is a proper shield and blade formation. The shield protects the person in the rear who strikes past them." He sees another slip past and gives Antonio a grin. "You're good, glad we're only doing a mock battle. Unlike Lazybones here." He pauses to slip a hand up and drag down one eyelid, sticking his tongue out at Luca before re-engaging.

Reese charged at Corban, giving the Telmar Lord a hard hit with her mace. She winces upon seeing the results of such, but Reese continues onwards. She seems to be focusing n protecting Monique even as she goes for Prince Antonio next. A glance is given to Lou. "Oh, yeah, he really is enjoying this. Luca, you will be loving this less when we take you down." She says to her husband. Her cheeks are pink and her blonde hair is messy.

Antonio takes moderate damage.

Wash says, "I heard you resigned your commission Captain Reckless." Wash says, happily taunting Antonio. "Is it because you have given up and finally just turned to piracy?""

Monique gives an audible gasp when Corban goes down, and is that worry in her eyes? The turncoat! But she recovers with aplomb and cheers the defeat of Evil!

Lou checked stamina, willpower + survival at difficulty 47, rolling 18 higher.

Lou remains capable of fighting.

Wash takes very serious damage.

Antonio checked stamina, willpower + survival at difficulty 12, rolling 26 higher.

Antonio remains capable of fighting.

The white-eyed woman on the benches smiles as the fight goes on. She is watching them like she is studying each of their movements, their tactics, and otherwise their style of fighting.

Sparte starts to back up past Lou, giving her a little shrug. "In a stunning twist, the brash Prince is taken by love for his fellow man. The sight of an ally struck down so causes him to lay down his arms and fight no more." He clears his throat. "I'm almost more certainly not going to the privvy."

Tarik walks in and joins the benches. He dips his heads to the nobles as he sits.

Tarik has joined the Benches.

It would seem that Wash's taunting has worked. Antono peels off of Lou and charges the other sailor, thwacking him hard with his reaver's axe. "That's Admiral Reckless to you, pal."

Reese looks over to Sparte and her blue eyes widen. "Oh, no..." She says in his direction. She takes a defensive stance over Monique and keeps fighting though. "Fight on, fight on, we still got this!"

Lou seems disappointed to see Sparte go, and smirks a bit at his parting words. She attempts to dodge past Luca, but he manages to clip her with his sword anyway. She takes another hefty beating, only able to issue a 'oof' in the process of being cleaved.

Ian is focused -- REALLY focused -- on watching the fight. He has a hand draped casually over the pommel of his cane to keep it from falling over, but all of his attention is sharpened to a point and darting over the melee, taking in details, following attacks, dissecting stances. Every now and again he'll nod or shake his head to himself.

"Bah! Scared the piss right out of you, eh?! That's what you get for being the goody two-shoes!" Luca calls out to Sparte as the slippery guardsman is retreating, leaving the armored prince free reign of targets again, an attempt at Lou brushing off armor mostly, leaving him to quip in that exaggurated overdramatic style. "Die already, woman! I've a princess to plunder!!!"

Denica is skipping up toward the fighting grounds in order to spectate. She catches a line and cheers out: "Go Reckless!"

Monique can't help the startled laughter at Sparte's departure. "Someone follow him, make sure he's truly in love!"

Wash wanted just that from Antonio, leading him away from the fight and protecting Luca. "Admiral? Under whose commission. You either need an appointment from a Lord or at least three vessels under your command. Are you counting rowboats now?"

Sparte tosses his weapon to Ian in passing. "You're hereby nominated as the person who knows what a stick is. Protect the lady with the bow, or don't! It is your honor as my stand-in on the line!" And with that he backpedals off to the privvy. Must be something he ate.

Lou checked stamina, willpower + survival at difficulty 62, rolling 19 higher.

Lou remains capable of fighting.

Clara looks to Sparte as he tosses his weapon at Ian. "You are a strange man." She offers to Sparte and then she looks to Ian. "Good luck."

Wash reels backward, giving ground before Antonio, doing his best to keep his sword up and draw him away from Luca and Monique.

Ian is given a stick and watches Sparte go. There's a pause. Then he sighs, shrugs, and stands up. Leaving the stick he was given behind, he takes his own "stick" and draws the blade from within it with a hiss of steel. He might be unsteady on his feet, but that sword becomes part of his arm the moment he's holding it. Still: Unsteady on his feet. With careful steps, he walks over to Wash, possibly having judged that Lou is going down anyway. "I'm going to grab your arm if I start to fall," he tells the other Kennex.

"Yeesh," says Corban, from his knelt position on the sidelines, watching as Lou takes smack after smack, yet still does not need to yield on the field. "Take her down -- evil -- pirates? Evil pirates! Get that plunder and bring it back to the -- crew?" He looks over, trying to get some confirmation. "Shares for all! Which I think is how pirates work!"

Monique casts Corban an arch look. '

Reese has her steel mace lifted and she continues to guard Monique and focus her attacks on Antonio. She looks over to Ian when he joins the fight and gives him a smile. "Oh, good." She murmurs.

Antonio doesn't seem to really care that he's lead way. Luca has it well in hand, and it seems to peel more of the defenders off his cousin. "I am Prince Antonio Velenosa, Captain of the Wreckless, Admiral of Lenosia." And you will board my boat, sail across the ocean, and return the heart of Te Fiti. Or not.. Still, each one of Antonio's words is puncuated by a parried swing.

"I WILL NOT BE PLUNDERED!" Lou calls out, though there is merriment in her eyes, somewhere behind the pain of a thousand hits. She nocks arrow after arrow, and has switched her target from Antonio - who is no longer attacking her now that his attention is on Wash, to Luca. "I'm gonna get you in the ass again!" she calls out.

"Lord Ian," Monique adds when the Kennex joins. "Welcome to the Side of Ultimate Good. Glad to have you! Now go and take their heads off!"

Ian has left the Benches.

Wash takes minor damage.

Lou checked stamina, willpower + survival at difficulty 81, rolling 9 higher.

Lou remains capable of fighting.

Ian has joined the fighting grounds.

When Antonio announces his name, Clara looks up at him and across the ivory skin of her cheeks a red blush rises to her flesh. She looks away.

Antonio checked stamina, willpower + survival at difficulty 26, rolling 38 higher.

Antonio remains capable of fighting.

"Bah! More goody two-shoes won't save you, princess Mo!" Luca's growling out as he's trying to get past Lou to the 'princess' and managing to actually get blocked by her again and again. "Gods but you are a fierce little thing! I can see where Ribbons gets it! GO DOWN!"

Reese looks over to Lou as she calls out and giggles. "Um..." She then charges at Antonio once again, this time getting in a hit.

Denica whistles loudly, "Undaunted and dashing too!"

"Your faith in me is touching," Ian says, probably to Monique. He takes a place near Wash. He can't take the full force of Antonio's axe blows, but he does try to use his blade to deflect them away from Wash. If he could do the footwork, it would be some very graceful swordplay. He can't, and it's not.

Lou checked stamina, willpower + survival at difficulty 96, rolling 17 lower.

Lou checked stamina, willpower + survival at difficulty 57, rolling 7 lower.

Lou is incapacitated.

Lou falls unconscious.

Luca is overheard praising Lou for: Gods damn you are a fierce little thing.

Monique is overheard praising Lou for: Spirits, she's tougher than anyone I've met!

Monique is overheard praising Reese for: Amazing event, Ribbons.

Lou is pulled off the field by the healers once the Grayson Princess finally gets knocked out. It takes several moments for her to wake back up, and once she does, she joins those already in the stands. She will likely be nursing bruises for several days now. She gives Luca a thoughtful look, perhaps determining ways on how to best get her brother-in-law back for ganging up on her!

Reese winces when her sister goes down and she sucks in a sharp breath. She glances her way briefly as if wanting to make sure she is okay. She keeps fighting though and guarding Monique.

Lou has left the fighting grounds.

Lou has joined the Benches.

Corban is overheard praising Reese for: For organizing a simulated battle to improve Compact forces!

Titania cheers her cousins on now clapping and wooting.

Monique winces as Lou finally goes down. "You were spectacular!" She shouts to the Princess once she regains consciousness. "I definitely owe you a Princess favor for valor!"

Denica scoots to the edge of the bench, watching closely. She knows nothing about fighting strategem or technique - but it's fun to watch. To a degree.

Reese is overheard praising Lou for: Fierce and steadfast.

"There! Gods! Remind me to watch out for you if I ever piss off your sister!" Luca's growling out from his metallic helm as he's finally dropping Lou, already on the move deeper into the battle, glancing back to see the state of his remaining 'brother' to call out. "Hold the line, Toni! Just a little further to the Prize!"

Antonio checked stamina, willpower + survival at difficulty 31, rolling 20 higher.

Antonio remains capable of fighting.

Lou flushes faintly at Monique. "Thank you," she calls out to the 'Princess' being defended by the remainder of her team. Luca gets another considering look. "Yes. That's probably wise." She grins like a cheshire cat.

"Perhaps you can keep your wife off of me?" Antonio calls out, "I mean, she's pretty and all.."

Lou looks from Antonio to Luca and back to Antonio again. "GET EM REESE! YOU CAN GET THEM! CUZ LUCA TRAINED YOU TO!" She gets some satisfaction out of that.

Reese dodges nimbly away from Luca's attack. She learned from the best after all! She is less protected, but more quickly moving when out of her armor. She continues to go after Antonio and protect Monique. Reese isn't talking too much, but she seems focused on the fight. She then blinks at Antonio's words and her cheeks flush pink. She turns toward Lou. "We got this, we got this. There is no way Luca is keeping of me off Antonio!"

Ian takes minor damage.

Reese takes very serious damage.

Wash takes moderate damage.

"It would be greatly appreciated!" Denica cups her hands around her mouth as she shouts her agreement.

Wash limps beneath the battering that Antonio has given him, but there is no time more appropriate for a smirk than when you are behind the wall of someone's elses (Ian's) weapon. "You're just... ow. Okay. So... that's quick of you."

Ian steps wrong in there somewhere and falls, but almost before he's finished collapsing, he's rolled away from a stroke of that axe, hauled himself up by grabbing Wash's arm, and in the middle of standing, manages to get his blade between Antonio's axe and his cousin-in-law. ... And then promptly goes down again, and is hit this time.

Wash checked stamina, willpower + survival at difficulty 1, rolling 17 higher.

Wash remains capable of fighting.

Ian takes serious damage.

Monique fishes around in her pockets, thoughtful. Finally, with eyes still mostly for the fray and keeping away from the opposing team, she pulls something free and tosses it in Lou's direction with a, "For great valor! This booty, at least, goes to you!"

Wash checked stamina, willpower + survival at difficulty 25, rolling 2 lower.

Wash checked stamina, willpower + survival at difficulty 0, rolling 25 higher.

Wash remains alive, but close to death.

Wash falls unconscious.

"Well if she'd focus on you and stay out of my way, I could get the Plundering started! But noooo!" Even saying that, Luca's trying again for the 'princess', and this time making his wife pay for getting in the way with a flat of blade lain with resounding smack against her unarmored ass! Even as he's starting towards Mo again though, Ian's suddenly in the way with a thrust that Luca's reacting to on sheer instinct, deflecting and riposting with a ferocious flat-bladed smack that leaves him actually jerking back as if Ian had burned him when he sees he just smacked the hell out of the half-crippled guy. "Ohshitsorry! Err...I mean! Hah! Stand before me and weep! Butreally, sorry!" Okay so he's not _completely_ in character.

"Yeah! Pirates!" calls out Corban from the sideline when Wash is forced to take a knee on the field, and the score is slightly evened up. "I'm not sure if we're any closer to getting the princess, but this is looking like an Abyss of a fight!"

Monique jumps away from the Evil Luca's advance, nimble and quick. "Princess Reese will *never* let that happen! HAH! So there! You bully!" Ooh, ZING.

Lou wields forest shadows elegant steel falchion with etched Grayson sigil.

Reese took one really hard hit from Luca and her ass is likely sore! She is still standing though and she manages to nimbly dart away from a few of his blows. She keeps trying to focus her attacks on Antonio. "I give you this chance to surrender and give up your evil ways and flee!" She says toward the princes. "Yes, I never will let that happen."

With Ian stumbling, Wash leans forward to push Luca out of the way leaving him with no defense against Antonio's assault. He's laid out flat without another quip.

Wash woke the thunder! Or something. With a feral grin, Antonio focuses on the Kennex admiral until he goes down. And really, the prince seems to be quite satisfied with that before his attention turns to the other Kennex. Perhaps he just doesn't like the family.

The little tricks Ian's been using to BARELY stay ahead of the game -- rolling in unexpected directions, guiding blows away in a way that strengthens his own guard -- with Antonio don't work with Luca. He didn't expect them to. When Wash goes down, he stumbles to his feet and backs up to protect Monique.

Ian takes moderate damage.

Clara gets up to leave.

Lou reaches up and catches the bottle that Monique sends her way, and waves at the woman. "Thank you!" she calls out to her, and opens the bottle to take a sniff. "Mmm." She caps it, then stores it in her backpack.

Lou puts Watermelon Hair Tonic in Rugged Backpack with Quick Release Straps.

Ian takes moderate damage.

Ian takes moderate damage.

Ian checked stamina, willpower + survival at difficulty 50, rolling 17 higher.

Ian remains capable of fighting.

Ian checked stamina, willpower + survival at difficulty 83, rolling 35 lower.

Ian checked stamina, willpower + survival at difficulty 46, rolling 0 higher.

Ian remains alive, but close to death.

Ian falls unconscious.

Denica blinks, hard, as she watches the fighters start dwindling down.

Antonio is bruised and battered.. and he's getting quite tired. Still, he has enough in him to brain Ian REALLY good. "Sorry!" he calls out in a breathy voice before finally turning his attention toward Reese.

Reese winces as Ian goes down. She then realizes she is the only warrior standing between the princes and Monique. She sucks in a soft breath and continues to fight. "I will take you both down!" She says, trying to sound more certain than she feels. Her cheeks are quite pink.

This is not looking good for Monique. The 'princess' is starting to look worried but she tries to hide it. "Come on, Princess Reese! You've got this. You're ten times the woman those men are!"

Reese takes minor damage.

Luca's been trying time and again for Monique, growling like an Abyssal-tainted beast man every time Reese or Ian get in his way. It just happens this time that Ian gets there to get smacked and directed right into Antonio's attack in tu rn to go down. "Just one more defender, my Pretty Prize! Take her, brother!"

"Come on, Pirates! And remember, I was out there soaking up their blows that -- sort of? -- made this possible! In a fashion!" Corban works on ensuring his place in this Historic Victory that may be in the works. He then raps his fingers on the bench next to him, not wanting to jinx it.

Ian, without the ability to dart and weave that he used to rely on, Ian's an easy target, and he starts taking hits. And he takes them, without giving -- until his body finally gives out on him completely. This time when he falls, he doesn't have it in him to get back up again. He rolls out of the way of the fight and then just lays on his back for a little while, trying to catch his breath. There might be a cracked rib or two in there from that last hit.

Antonio checked stamina, willpower + survival at difficulty 36, rolling 3 higher.

Antonio remains capable of fighting.

Lou is overheard praising Ian for: You've got courage!

Reese takes minor damage.

Lou shouts encouragenemt, "YOU GOT THIS REESE!"

Reese checked stamina, willpower + survival at difficulty 1, rolling 50 higher.

Reese remains capable of fighting.

Clara returns, reclaiming her seat.

"You can do it, Princess Reese!" Monique cheers, but from well behind the warrior princess, and very carefully keeping an eye on both Antonio and Luca.

Antonio checked stamina, willpower + survival at difficulty 38, rolling 21 higher.

Antonio remains capable of fighting.

Antonio checked stamina, willpower + survival at difficulty 50, rolling 8 higher.

Antonio remains capable of fighting.

Reese checked stamina, willpower + survival at difficulty 17, rolling 25 higher.

Reese remains capable of fighting.

Ian sits up with a soft hitch to his breath. Yup, he's definitely got a couple of cracked ribs. But he's got his breath back well enough to go on spectating from where he is.

Reese checked stamina, willpower + survival at difficulty 76, rolling 23 lower.

Reese has rolled a critical success!
Reese checked stamina, willpower + survival at difficulty 41, rolling 76 higher.

Reese remains alive, but close to death.

Reese falls unconscious.

Lou takes serious damage.

"Come on, Pirates!" shouts Corban from the sidelines, apparently to counter Monique's cheering, though he does share a quick glance with the princess. "That's it!" he shouts, getting into it, even though he's not entirely sure what their role was in. "Now snatch the Princess and bring her back to our -- den of inequity, I guess is what we must have!"

Monique gets Minx's Vambraces from a sturdy backpack dyed in crimson hues with gold trim.

Reese takes a hard hit from Antonio and then one from Luca. She before and before Monique, leaving the redhead defenseless. "Ow...." She says and struggles to get up, but she never gets up.

Monique exclaims over Reese's fall and she looks genuinely concerned. "Oh, no! Anyone have a sword?" she says, warily, as she backs away from Luca and Antonio.

There are swords littering the ground.

Shard slips in, narrow eyed and with slightly hunched shoulders. She makes her way along the edge until she's vague near the other spectators, then stops and crosses her arms. She's clearly just here to watch.

Ian has a sword, but it's out of his reach, and he's not doing any reaching right now. (Because I can't give you anything while I'm unconscious, apparently)

Denica blinks with surprise, watching as it's no longer a battle ... but a game of tag.

Antonio looks -exhausted- but as Reese goes down, he points his axe at Monique. "Surrender. And we'll be gentle."

"Sorry, my love! But this is not the day the goody two-shoes win!" Luca's crowing in that over-dramatic 'evil' voice as he stands untouched so far and still not even breathing faintly hard, despite how hard his 'brother' has taken to this battle. As they both take it to her, the mighty warrior princess finally falls. He pauses to savor the victory for a moment, pointing his blade towards Monique and saying. "I'll get to you shortly, my pretty!" Then though, he's calling. "Sorry brother, sharing is very not evil!" ANd he's suddenly attacking his own teammate and faux-brother Antonio! We should all be glad Luca's not _really_ evil. He's kind of a dick about it.

"Not a chance," Monique replies to both Antonio and Luca, and silently, but visibly, thanks the spirits for wearing pants this afternoon. She backs off warily, keeping an eye (wide eye) as Luca attacks Antonio.

Antonio has left the fighting grounds.

Lou takes serious damage.

Gino, a surly sailor have been dismissed.

Monique takes minor damage.

Yeah! Antonio isn't going to even try and fight Luca- when he sees his cousin turn on him, he hightails it to the stands- and even though he's tired and on his last legs.. he makes it.

Wash hefts himself to his feet once the fight is ended. "Next time you need something other than a stick Ian." He grumbles, offering the younger man his hand to get back to his feet.

Lou is overheard praising Reese for: For running a very classy Mock Battle!

Ian takes Wash's hand, and hauls himself to his feet with a soft grunt of pain, because ribs. "Next time, I'm giving the stick to someone else." No he's not. There's still a light in his eyes, fading slowly now that the fight is over.

Denica glances aside as Antonio flees the mock battle. She stares, level. "Hopefully the mock battle doesn't reflect what you might actually do in a conflict."

Lou has left the Benches.

Reese looks banged up, but the mercies tend to her quickly and she eventually is sitting up and looking conscious. She gives everyone here a smile and her cheeks are still very pink. "Oh, that was a rush. Wonderful fighting everyone." She says, but has not got up yet.

Once he's made it to the stands, Antonio seems -quite- surprised to see Denica there. Though it's the good sort of surprise, and he grins. "Hopefully in a real battle my ally wont turn on me when I'm barely able to stand. Better to live to fight another day, then die stupidly."

Otherwise, well fought," the Thrax princess adds.

"Fine fine! Flee, Toni! Prize is left to me then!" And flipping up the rubicund faceplate of his helm, he's giving Monique a wry, playfully wicked sort of smirk as he calls. "Run if you'd like, Mo, but I'm coming for you!" And with that, he starts stalking towards her, suiting word to action, and indeed, even if she does try to run, he's sliding forward with that demon-quick speed that earned him the title Prince Nimble from his wife, he's whipping blade out to tap the 'princess' and end th e fight. After it all, he's grinning bright and declaring. "Well that was delightful! Cor and Toni! Best shield-men brothers ever!"

Lou rises from her seat and offers Reese some praise, "If you'll all excuse me. I need to get back to tuck Safi in goodnight. You ran a good event sister." Luca, however, is fixed with a look. Oh yes. Revenge is being planned.

Shard's eyebrows lift at the end of the fight. She remains silent.

"And hey! _EVIL_ Prince here, remember?!" Luca defends himself absently after it all to Antonio with a grin, moving forward to give his cousin a thwap on the back despite the bruises the man probably already has. "Well fought though."

Wash and Ian are leaning on each other having fallen in the face of overwhelming skill and knowledge. Wash looks more than a little achey, but at least he had the good sense to lay down before he was put down.

Corban sheathes his sword and makes his way over to Antonio and Luca, giving them each a forearm shake and pat to the back, the sort of dude-bro-good-game spar gesture that is uniquely male and Oathlands. "Nicely done," he compliments them both. "I'd go down early in battle for either of you, just as long as you avenge me."

Luca checked dexterity + athletics at difficulty 15, rolling 39 higher.

Reese looks over to Lou while she is still sitting in the middle of the rink. "Take care, Lou. Well fought."

Monique checked dexterity + dodge at difficulty 15, rolling 41 higher.

Titania is sitting in the stands taling to Clara and Tarik, there is a blue to her cheeks and a smile on her lips.

Ian collects the pieces to his cane and slides the blade back into the scabbard. "I'd like to spar with you sometime," he tells Wash. "I made some mistakes that I want to try to correct."

"Knowing so very little about battle, Antonio, I'll just have to agree. She shrugs her shoulders, "Although, in my family's culture... allies turning against you isn't unheard of. It's all about being stronger or more clever than the enemy."

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

"I won't say now." Wash tells Ian, but I'd like to do it where you don't need to lean on me to swing a blade."

Antonio gives Denica a grin, before he leans in to give the Thrax princess a fairly sweaty kiss on the cheek. "And that's the cleverness.. managing to evade a death blow from a hopless fight." And then he's all about the post battle 'brotherhood' giving Luca and Corban a nod. "Well fought, guys."

Ian tsks. "I was leaning on you to dodge." Because that's different. He's leaning on his cane now, though, while he picks up his feet one by one and watches while he turns them this way and that, testing his ankles, probably, to make sure he doesn't unknowingly walk on a sprained one.

Ford seems to have come in just as everything ended. He folds his arms across his chest and leans against the edge of the benches.

Captured, spoils of war. It's all in a day's work for Monique. She's fast, but she's still too worried about Reese to really put her all into evading Luca. "Congratulations, Evil One," she dubs him, grinning.

Reese looks okay. Her blonde hair is a tangled mess, her cheeks are flushed and is perched on the ground in a way that suggests she is too exhausted to rise at the moment, but she will likely be okay. She watches those around her, trying to keep pace and trying to play hostess still, but kind of failing.

With his blade, Wash salutes the Marquis of Kennex when he comes in. "Not exactly what I was expecting from the evening, but it was worth it to see Lord Luca in action. He's everything I've been told he is."

She laughs, "I see. Well, I'll consider the cleverness of the move, Admiral Reckless." Denica does lean in to tousle Antonio's hair, brushing it away from his sweaty forehead. "I'm headed back. Sorry that I showed up so late."

Denica asides, "Don't look now. We're surrounded by Kennex."

"I should switch to team Abyss. I like the sound of that. Evil One!" Luca quips after the capture and titling, pulling free his helm to let unruly hair free as he leaves his spoils of war to go towards his battered wife for a kiss. As he does though, he's saying over shoulder. "And before I read in the Whites that people are reporting me to Ali and the Inquisition for declaring for the Abyss, I am very much joking all of you!" Kiss of his wife taken, he's grinning over to Wash's comment and offering. "I try not to disapoint on the sands. Outside of them I'm a total let down though." Then to Ian he's offering up with wry grin. "You know, i could teach you footwork you could use even with that leg. I believe in evading with minimal effort so it's more about center of gravity and swaying out of the attack line than actual dancing sometimes."

"Oh no, perfect timing. You arrived just as I started hitting people, rather than getting hit myself!" Antonio flashes her a grin. Though when she points out Ford's arrival, that grin fades somewhat. "So it would seem. Will I see you later? I believe there is still a matter of a kiss."

"He is something.." Reese says toward Ford. Her words are even pregnant with affection. Are they? Reese looks around the training grounds. "Oh, we are..." She says and smiles over to Titania and then to Ian. She returns Luca's kiss, but then sigh softly. "Oh, don't even joke like that Nimble." She says and that sigh was a long suffering sigh. She struggles to get back on her booted feet.

Ian looks up when he catches Wash saluting someone out of the corner of his eye, and nods a greeting to Ford. "This was a lot more fun than being clubbed on the head by one of Duke Grimhall's warriors," he remarks, probably to Reese. To Luca, he adds, wry but more good natured than is the norm for him: "I'm afraid I might be the disappointment, there. It's not just the one leg. But I'm game to try."

Shard remains just near the stands, arms crossed, utterly silent. She could easily be mistaken for part of the furniture for all she's moving, but her eyes are sharp and alert, and she's clearly watching the former combatants.

Reese smiles happily to Ian. "I am glad that you had fun and you were very brave, stepping in like that." She murmurs. She then turns her attention to Clara. "I don't believe that I have met you before?" She says in her direction. She is still all flushed and likely bruised up.

Monique saunters over to the sidelines, but pausing to offer Reese a bright, "Thank you, Princess! This was wonderful." And to Luca, "I demand a rematch one of these days. I'm certain I'm faster than you in a fair fight," she adds with a wink. Then she's moving on, over to the stands and the others. "Lord Ian, Admiral Wash, Lord Corban." The ones she knows. The others get smiles and head-nods.

Tiny Tom arrives, following Sparte.

Luca has left the fighting grounds.

"Adding a task -" Denica starts as she stands. "Start mending the bridges you started to burn. Thrax's vassals are allies. Especially now, Prince Antonio..." she pecks his cheek. and hops off the bench.

Titania looks over at Dencia, "I heared that." she smiles to the princess and gets up from her seat and heads in Fords direction. "Marquis Ford." she calls over to him, "I like you to meet Tarik Morien." she smiles, "Tarik, my cousin Marquis Ford Kennex."

Sparte returns, looking around the room as he comes in. He has some bandages over one shoulder, unused and waiting for a victim. One has crooked hearts hastily scribbled onto it.

"Lady Greenmarch. I half expected you to show up with a bow today. Would have been interesting." Wash tells the woman. "I'm in the market for a new longship, would you be interested in looking over ships with me, tomorrow perhaps? The prices are astronomical, but I have the right connections, I think."

Ford hears his name being called and looks to where it was coming from. When Titania introduces him, he offers a small smile, "How do you do."

Reese smiles toward Sparte as he returns. "Hi, Sparte. We didn't win." She murmurs and then gives Monique and apologetic smile at that. "I do need a drink." She murmurs and goes to pour herself some hard cider. There are drinks and food here set up on a table by the Grayson servants. Reese keeps them busy!

Corban has left the fighting grounds.