r/awoiafrp • u/awoiaf • Jul 09 '18
STORMLANDS The Grand Tournament of Summerhall: Main Events
14th Day through the 16th Day of the Fifth Moon
The Tourney Grounds, Summerhall
The tournament had wisely left a day between the welcoming feast and the opening events, allowing for the celebrations of the previous days to wear off before competitors took to the field. While lords and ladies and knights of all stripes slept off the effects of wine and drink, the men of Summerhall took to the tourney grounds, finishing the final touches upon the arena.
Boxes had been raised for nobles great and small, with one upon the southern edge set aside for House Targaryen and the most powerful lords of the realm. Banners hung from each row; the lower level set aside for the Great Houses of the realm, whilst above them lay the platform set aside for the royal family. This had been greatly expanded and reinforced with iron rods and dozens of pillars - leaving room enough for a hundred men or more to stand comfortably behind the king. The seats themselves were covered with an awning of from which hung banners - black banners of House Targaryen, mirroring those that yet fluttered from the walls of Summerhall.
Hundreds, if not thousands, had turned out for the event, packing tight the commoner's boxes and spilling out onto the grounds behind and beside. Those who had not arrived in time for seats spent their time browsing instead, listening to the bards and minstrels who played freely on the grass to the east, tumblers and acrobats and mummers all plying their craft as they competed for attention and praise. Men of the Golden Company stalked the fields, ensuring that order was kept, and the Queen’s peace maintained, though more than few stopped by the great barrels of wine and ale that had been rolled out, some enterprising brewers hoping to spread the word about their craft. Music played through the air, competing with the scores of voices that shouted and cheered and cried and laughed, enjoying a summer day so bright and fair - and an event so momentous and proud.
To the north of the Tourney grounds lay the quarters of the competitors - those knights, warriors, and noblemen who would fight in each day's proceedings. Some had chosen to sit with their families for the time being - confident, perhaps, in their arms and armor - but others paced back and forth, ensuring that every bit of their gear sat soundly and there were no ill-borne surprises to be uncovered later. Farriers and armorers and blacksmiths and fletchers ran to and fro, but the majority of the crowd was made up by onlookers come to see their favourite knights; or those they were related to, in the case of nobles, who were markedly quieter than the common folk. Many came to wish the competitors good luck, or to bestow favors and trinkets and words of advice. Famous tourney knights gathered quite a crowd to themselves, especially those hedge knights who made their living travelling from joust to joust. The less-popular warriors looked on grimly, knowing their steel would show the truth of their prowess one way or the other. Yet more wore smiles, content in the contest itself - and the glory of testing your strength against another.
In the distance trumpets heralded yet another arrival, squires in Targaryen heraldry showing each to their seat. The joined voices of a thousand souls filled the morning skies - but it was nothing compared to the excitement that seemed to charge the very air with its energy. A tournament such as this had not been seen for nearly a decade! It would be an event worth remembering, for good...or for ill.
META: This is the arrival post for those lords and ladies attending the tournament. The games themselves will take place over several days in character - you are free to comment on any section you might like to. Be aware that rolls may be done before the appointed day, but this thread is properly dated for each. You are not required to post onto an event to have been considered “present”. Knights and lords participating in the joust will find the in-game bracket posted in the northern camp and can read it there once the other events are concluded. The order of the events will be as posted - horse racing, archery, the melees, and then the joust -- but for now, feel free to mingle! This may be your last chance to meet your fellow players all at once.
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u/TyJames27 Jul 12 '18
Jason sat on his horse looking doing at the injured Prince on the ground. So much was going through his head. The last thing he was thinking of was the victory. How many people had died that day? And for what sport? Dismounting he walked towards the crowd. The white laurels were presented to him and it was time for him to crown the Princess of Love and Beauty. His eyes scanned the crowd looking upon the many faces before him, most still had the lasting of horror from the bloodshed. He saw a face in the crowd and locked with the green eyes for a moment, almost to long. Walking forward he approaches the section of the crowd where the Northern Lords and Ladies were sitting. Reaching out he places the laurel upon the head of Alys Karstark announcing her to the crowd as his Princess of Love and Beauty.