Melee Contest

[Vex]

Dacey arrived at the platform, presumably with Jormun, wearing her brand new chain over her usual black leathers.

Ser Harlan was present as well, exchanging pleasantries with Lord Roote.

[The Raven]

Ser Alester Shoreham stepped onto the platform and approached Aelison. It would be easy to describe his expression as a sneer, but a sneer is but a momentary affectation. Alester always looked like that. "Lady Blackfort. My brother has asked me to avoid striking you. I expect the same courtesy from you, else I might forget my fraternal bonds."

[Bret]

Aelison regarded the knight, who's facial expression made him look as if he hadn't had use of the privy for a while, it was Hoster's brother. She was a bit confused by his statement but she let him finish, "For Hoster, I maybe able to extend you the same courtesy Ser", replied wth a small nod.

[The Raven]

"Charming," declared Alester without any charm or hint of being charmed. Then he lowered his visor and moved to the other side of the platform.

[The Gambler]

(When you hit -35, you go in the water. Beating an opponent's roll by 100+ is an automatic knockout. Armor and boons are taken into account. Wounds are cumulative, so if your strategy was to go for the strongest fighters first, it may not pay off when you get to the end. Best of luck everyone. While I'll be rolling each round, I will likely condense multiple rounds into the descriptions, so as to save time and prevent having to type a million rounds.)

The gamemaster, from his position safely on the shore, did not even bother explaining any rules this time. That's because there were none, except that the last warrior on the platform took the prize.

"Let the melee begin!" he called out, before the song of steel against steel echoed along the God's Eye.

[The Gambler]

Initial Pairings:
Dacey Blackfort vs Ser Pety Piper
Septon Jared vs Ser Arys Frey
Ser Willem Rivers vs Hoster Blackfort
Aelison Blackfort vs Ser Whalen Bracken
Lord Belric Blackfort vs Ser Torren Tully
Ser Harlan Hawick vs Ser Alester Shoreham
Ser Willis Blackfort vs Lord Lucamore Roote
Lord Osmyn Goodbrook vs Ser Ned Bracken
Joanna Mallister vs Ser Robert Goodbrook
Jormun Rivers vs Lord Joseth Mallister

[The Gambler]

Fresh from her win in the Bohort, Dacey came out apparently eager to take another prize, immediately starting the melee by cracking the heir to Maidenpool so hard across the helm that she dented his visor. He swayed on his feet, almost toppling over into water, before regaining his footing. He swung high, the nimble scout ducking under the blow even with the unaccustomed weight of her new chain armor. Then he swung for her midsection, Dacey this time agilely leaping back, frustrating him. She evaded or parried a half dozen more attacks, before the exhausted young knight charged towards her in a reckless assault. She sidestepped him, swatted him in the back of the knee, then send him into the icy waters with a kick.
(+1 Swords to Dacey)

Ser Aerys, despite his less than holy diversions, seemed hesitant to strike a septon. He was likely confused as to what a holy man was doing in a melee, as they were typically limited to lords knights or nobles. Jared was none of the above, but that didn't stop him from slamming his shield into the knight's chest, forcing Frey to the edge of the platform. Aerys tried to find a gap in the septon's defenses with sword and dagger, but was met by a second shield bash that sent both weapons and the knight into the icy water and mud.
(+2 Swords to Jared)

Ser Willem had been standing next to Hoster, on his blind side. The moment the gamemaster announced the start of the melee, he placed a hand on his father's shoulder and shoved him towards the edge of the platform. Hoster flailed for a moment, trying to catch his balance, which with the missing arm looked more like he was waving to the crowd. Willem could almost feel Hoster's phantom limb reaching out to strangle him as he finished the job and pushed him into the water.
(+1 Swords to Willem)

As Aelison squared off with Ser Whalen, a veteran knight armored in plate, he looked at her and then the stands as if to ask if he seriously had to do this. To his credit, he gave her no quarter as he unceremoniously knocked her into the water with a single strike. He almost felt bad about it.

Most eyes in the crowd thankfully missed the one sided matchup, all focused on the duel between Lord Belric Blackfort and Ser Torren Tully, both men fighting as if the war had never ended. Their two handed swords clashed, neither gaining ground for what seemed an eternity as other contestants were fished out of the icy waters, equally matched. Torren landed the first blow, bringing the pommel of his greatsword up into Belric's chin as the Ravensbane overextended deflecting a strike downward. Belric repaid him in kind, landing a punishing blow on the knight's armored side. Gritting through the pain, Torren lifted his sword for an overhead strike, but was met by the Lord of Harrenhal driving his shoulder into his chest, knocking him from the platform.
(+1 Sword to Belric. Belric suffers a wound for -15)

Ser Harlan lands a number of blows upon Lord Shoreham's heir, showing his time in King's Landing had not been spent entirely spent babysitting. Unfortunately, Ser Alester's plate allowed him to shrug off the blows. He drove the point of his sword into the sworn sword's gut, knocking the wind out of him, the chain armor doing little to cushion the thrust. As he doubled over, Shoreham raised his sword to deliver a finishing blow, but Harlan surprised the crown by bringing his shield up hard under his opponent's chin, so hard he spit a gob of blood and likely saw stars. As Harlan swung, attempting to make up for lost ground and press the opening, Ser Alester caught his arm, sidestepped, the sworn sword from the platform for a Pyrrhic victory.
(+1 Sword to Harlan. Shoreham suffers a wound for -25)

The duel between Ser Willis and Lord Roote began well enough, the pair trading blows, testing each other's defenses, neither finding advantage over the other. Then Lucamore, clearly not wishing to be embarrassed at his own tourney unleashed a trio of blows to the head on his opponent that left Willis dazed and confused...and wet.
(+1 Sword for Willis)

It seemed Belric and Torren were not the only ones eager to settle old scores from the war as Lord Goodbrook and Ser Ned Bracken found each other in the fray. Ser Ned opened with a feint from his dagger and a strike from his longsword, his skill making it clear why he had been a contender for the open position of the Kingsguard Ser Richard had eventually been awarded. Though an experienced warrior himself, Lord Goodbrook looked a novice as he tried in vain to fend off the strikes, his mace blows glancing harmlessly off Ser Ned's plate. Bruised and battered, the cold water was likely a welcome relief to Lord Osmyn.

Joanna Mallister systematically dismantled Ser Robert Goodbrook with surgical precision, blows from her sword and axe raining on the poor knight from every angle. When he hit the water, many were not sure if he was forced in or voluntarily jumped to avoid the flurry of blows.

Having heard of Jormun's feat at Armistead's Crossing, the finest swordsman in the Riverlands sought him out, in need of a challenge. For a time he was not disappointed, unable to catch the agile huntsman, who ducked and dodged as he probed his opponent's defenses with his spear. Joseth raised his shield high, intentionally leaving an opening for Jormun. When the spear came low, he slammed the kite shield down at the last moment, breaking the pole in a shower of splinters as the point off the shield cought the spearhead between two of the platform's wooden planks. Abandoning the shield, Joseth followed with an uppercut with a bolstered steel gauntlet, sending Jormun reeling. A followup strike from the sword ended the first round, as the combatants turned to find their next foe among those who remained.
(+1 Spear for Jormun)

[The Gambler]

Round 2 Pairings: (Assigned at random if I didn't have an opponent pick provided or remaining out of your 3)
Dacey Blackfort vs Ser Willem Rivers
Septon Jared vs Ser Ned Bracken
Lord Belric Blackfort vs Lord Lucamore Roote
Joanna Mallister vs Ser Alester Shoreham
Lord Joseth Mallister vs Ser Whalen Bracken

[The Gambler]

Willem was apparently still holding numerous grudges against his kin, for after Hoster was dealt with, his first instinct was to look around for Jormun. As the huntsman was in the water, he made a beeline for Dacey, who seemed far more intent on clearing the field of those not related by blood first. So it was that she was taken by surprise when Willem went on the offensive, taking the blunted blade of his sword to the shin, certainly bruising the bone. While this certainly hampered her mobility, it did nothing to dampen her ferocity, her twin swords striking Willem on either side of the helm, leaving him seeing spots. On the back foot now, Willem managed to hold his ground against the assault, blows glancing off his armor and deflecting a few with his shield. Taking advantage of her hampered mobility, he telegraphing a horizontal slash she would have normally dodged easily. She leaped to the side, but took a misstep, wincing in pain as her ankle had swollen to the size of a small melon. The full weight of the blade with a fully armored knight backing it up took her in the stomach, launching her completely off her feet into the waters.
(+1 Sword for Willem. +1 Sword for Dacey. Willem suffers a Wound for -10)

Frey may have hesitated beating on a septon, but Ser Ned Bracken apparently had no such qualms. He drove a blunted dagger into Jared's gut, before punching him in the face with the pommel of his his sword. Hit hit him once...twice...three times...Jared looking more Crone than Warrior as some spectators winced at the savage beating. Mercifully, Ned tossed the half conscious septon in the lake before any permanent damage could be done.

Likewise, Lord Lucamore did not hesitate to ring Belric's bell, not even stop for pleasantries or boasts before bringing his longsword down on his friend's shoulder so hard the steel bent, leaving the Lord of Harrenhal unable to properly lift his left arm above is head. That complicated using a two handed sword, especially after the damage Torren had done. Lucamore took advantage of this, raining down overhead blow after overhead blow, Belric unable to mount a proper defense with his dented armor. It was only after Belric was in the water that Lucamore after a sporting laugh and saluted him with his sword.

Joanna Mallister seemed to toy with the already unsteady Shoreham, still reeling from the hit to the head he had taken from Harlan. She danced around his ineffective strikes for a bit before putting him out of his misery, sweeping his legs out from behind him so he tumbled head over heals backwards into the lake.

Ser Whalen held his own against the Riverland's legendary blade, fending off blows and testing Joseth Mallister for even longer than Jormun had. Even though Mallister had killed no shortage of Frey knights in the war, he was clearly more accustomed to killing Ironborn, blows that would have felled a lightly armored reaver glancing harmlessly off Bracken's plate. Still, Bracken could find no opening in Joseth's defenses, the duel going so long it seemed to rival that of Damon Blackfyre and Corbray at the Redgrass Field. Finally, Joseth's blows wore down Ser Whalen, first just a grunt of pain as a blow struck true. Then, a few steps of ground given up, the guard of his shield lowering from exhaustion. When Bracken finally went down in the water, many in the crowd clapped for the young knight's showing, even Mallister ringing his sword against his shield in applause.

[The Gambler]

Round 3 Contestants: (Willem, as you're the only PC left, you can PM me and tell me which of the remaining contestants you'd like to fight)
Ser Willem Rivers
Ser Ned Bracken
Lord Lucamore Roote
Joanna Mallister
Lord Joseth Mallister

[The Gambler]

Ser Willem the Kinbasher found himself face to face with Ser Ned Bracken the man who had almost been a whitecloak.

Joseth and Joanna Mallister rounded on Lord Roote, and for a moment it looked as if the father and daughter would both tear into Lucamore like a pair of hungry wolves. Instead, Joseth placed his hand on his daughter's shoulder and her frustrated sigh could be heard in the stands as they communicated something wordlessly and raised a hand to tell Roote to wait just a moment. Then, the two warriors played rock, parchment, shears to decide who would get first go at the opponent; much to the amusement of the spectators. Lucamore seemed more than content to wait, rather than getting picked apart by both at the same time. Joanna proved the victor, playing shears against his parchment, and stepped forward to face Roote as her father stepped back to watch the proceedings, grumbling something about best two out of three.

[The Gambler]

Though his ears still rang from the hit Dacey had given him, Willem came out swinging, going on the offensive against the Bracken knight, warding off blows from sword and knife with his shield as he advanced, Ser Ned pushed back to the edge and attempting to pivot around the bastard. Willem landed the first real blow, deflecting Ned's blunted knife with his battleworn shield, before bringing his sword down on the weak spot in the armor where his arm bent at the elbow. He followed it up with another strike, bringing his pommel against Ser Ned's helm, ensuring he was not the only one with ringing ears. The counterattack came in a flurry, sword and dagger raining upon Willem, four hits in a row that all glanced off plate or deflected off shield. With a final bash from his defensive instrument and a heave, Willem shoved Ser Ned from the platform, at least proving that he was good for more than beating on his own kin.
(+1 Swords for Willem)

On a veritable rampage now, despite not being particularly renown for his skill at arms in comparison to his opponents, Lucamore found a quick opening in Joanna Mallister's defenses and knocked her into the water in two clean blows, making it look easy. This seemed to amuse rather than annoy her father, who actually laughed at the poor showing as he stepped forward to face the fellow high lord. His laughter was cut short as Roote continued his impressive momentum, landing a blow to Joseth's throat that would have been fatal if not for the gorget and blunted steel. As Joseth sputtered, half laughing and half choking from the blow, Roote bashed him with his shield so hard it knocked the Lord of Seagard on his back. As Lord Mallister pulled himself up to one knee, Roote kicked him in the chest, sending the greatest swordsman in the Riverlands off the platform with a groan from the gamblers in the crowd. To say it was a stunning upset was a colossal understatement.

[The Gambler]

(Rolling the last round like a real fight, until the "deathblow" at 100+)

Both men were exhausted as they finally met on the floating platform, their armor feeling as if it weighed a thousand pounds and sword arms aching. The wooden battleground, which had felt claustrophobic before with a score of competitors, now felt a proper dueling arena and both men stayed far away from the edges. This fight would be until knockout or yield.

Despite being worse for wear than his opponent, Willem struck first and struck hard, his swordpoint lashing out over Rootes lowered guard to strike him square in the middle of the visor for the first real hit he had suffered in the contest
(Roote takes a Medium Wound for -10)

He shoved off with his shield to halt the younger knight's advance, giving him a few feet of breathing room as the two knights circled one another. The pair skillfully traded blows, the song of steel echoing across the God's eyes.
(3 rounds without a hit)

Roote swats aside Willem's shield and lands a mighty hit to the bastard's side, the plate buckling, denting inward to bruise his ribcage. Each breath becomes agony.
(Willem takes Heavy Wound for -25, now -35)

Willem attempts to counterattack, but his sword glances off the fine castle-forged plate, though Roote's exhaustion makes him lower his guard further as even light blows began to wear him down.
(Roote takes a Light Wound, but ignores it due to armor.)

Drawing from some deep reserve, Willem found his second wind, lashing out with sword and shield. A dent to Lucamore's shoulder rendered the Lord unable to raise his shield to mount a proper defense.
(Roote take a Heavy Wound for -25, now -35)

Willem continues the assault, outmaneuvering the older lord and striking him in the armor joint behind the leg, causing Roote to go down to one knee with a curse.
(Roote takes a Medium Wound for -10, now -45)

Willem uses his elevated position over the kneeling lord and his inability to raise his shield arm to rain down blows on him, knocking his sword aside and bringing down a powerful blow on Roote's helm that dented the visor.
(Roote take a Heavy Wound for -25, now -70)

In what seemed a fitting way to welcome anyone into the Blackfort family, Willem continued treating Roote to blows to the head, and shoulders.
(Roote takes a Medium Wound for -10, now -80)

With a last mighty blow, Willem knocks the helm from Roote's head, forcing the high lord to raise his hand, yielding the fight.
(+1 Swords to Willem. Roote Yields)

"Ser Willem Rivers has won the melee!" the gamemaster announces, as the crowd begins chanting his name. The knight had been almost unheard of before this point. Everyone in the Riverlands would know his name now...and hopefully stop mixing him up with Willis. "Willem! Willem! Willem!"
(+3 Swords for Willem and a sizable purse, for which House Blackfort gains 1 Wealth. House Blackfort gains +5 Influence for having him in their service and +1 Disposition with House Mallister)

[Lucas of Brindlewood]

Willem's head hurt, and once again his ribs felt as if they were aflame, but that didn't matter. He felt the happiest he had ever felt in his rather unhappy life. He sheathed his blade, and not one to be an ungracious winner, he stooped down to offer Roote a hand, figuring it was the least he could do after treating him to a strong dosage of Blackfort hospitality. "Well fought, my lord." he said, using his other hand to raise his visor.

Internally he wondered what brought him more joy; winning the melee and all the acclaim that came with it, which he would not have expected to come to pass in his wildest fantasies, or kicking Hoster's sorry ass off the platform and watching the pitiful expression on his face as he plummeted into the water. Willem, in the heat of the moment, felt fairly certain it was the latter. Still, realizing he would probably not win many more melees in his life, he let himself soak in the acclaim of the crowd, drawing even greater pleasure from the moment by picturing Hoster's falling body as the people chanted his name.