2024.03.18: Girl Knghts Gone Mild

Girl Knights Gone Mild!
Two sidhe knights put on a bit of a show for others.
IC Date	March 18, 2024
Players	Alicia, Amberlee, Cait, Erik, Malcolm, Miranda, Oswald
Location	Snow Fang Peak - Drill Yard
Spheres	Changeling

Snow Fang Peak - Path of Ice

The Snow Fang Mountains separate the desert from the rest of the counter, but there is another trail, a trail lost by time that has been recently found again. The biting wind whips through the pass running down the mountains to chase after the heat of the desert. The further one climbs along those dull, rounded and chipped steps, the brighter the lights appear. Braziers of shifting color, burning white, then blue, then red, and then green; all manner of shifting colors signal for those who spot them to follow. In increments, they dot the steps before those whose stone towers can be spotted.

The first glimpse of the castle itself is a wall rising around it, seeming to almost float among the clouds, built as it is on the peak, the only access to the bridge with a gate standing in front with a pair of Ironborn warriors guarding it.

The steels porticullis, ready to be dropped at the hint of an attack, are usually raised to let traffic pass and heavy oak doors, held open so commerce can flow to and from the castle beyond. Once upon the bridge, it seems some kind of magic keeps the wind from pushing those on it, almost falling away completely and the warmth of torches that line it to give sight at night. Half way across the bridge is another gate house just like the first with its pair of guards. The final gate, dwarfing the others, looking to be the last line of defense, but also the first show of power as it towers almost as high as the walls themselves. Flanked by towers, the sounds of bustle easily heard as one draws near, listening for the lifeblood of the freehold inside.

Sealgaira has arrived early. She's in her armor, but her usual cloak is set off to the side. Her gauntlets are on, and a helm rests close by. "Ah, Dame Cethleann. I hope you don't mind, but I've scheduled you for a sparring match with myself this day for some festivities for our social activities."

Cait nods a bit, already geared up in her full kit, "Not at all, not at all... in fact..." She smiles a bit, "Care to put a little wager on it?"

"Hell yeah, I'll bet on it. Rules. No arts, no treasures except as the item they are." Sealgaira gestures to her sword. "This is a treasure, but I won't use it as such. Just as a sword. First to three wounds. We'll pull our blows to keep things civil. No chimerical death."

Cait nods. "That sounds fine.." She moves to begin stretching out some. "And for the stakes... what do you want if you win?"

"I don't know. Money? Thousand bucks?" the Fiona asks. "I've never bet with a Balor before." Sealgaira begins to braid her hair to fit under her helmet.

Cait laughs, "No, but it's not about me... we'll get to that part. Right now, it's what do you want?"

"You're the one that asked for a wager. You name what you think," Sealgaira says.

Cait shrugs, "If I win, you owe me a favor. Whatever I eventually come up with, you can always turn me down, but the favor stands until I find something you're ok with. I promise... there won't be anything... untoward... involved. The last favor I traded was to tell someone what they should've used their favor for."

Micah has arrived.

"A favor is a very large thing. A minor favor that will take no more than an hour, will not violate anyone's honor or oaths, will not cause them to betray their house or liege, will not bring them into disrepute, and will not in any way cause them harm. Is that satisfactory?" Sealgaira asks. This faerie faeries.

Malcolm has arrived.

Cait smirks as she shrugs a bit to Sealgaira, the two of them near the entry to the drill yard, "I mean, anything that can't bring someone into disrepute seems like it wouldn't be worth your time, Dame Sealgaira, but that sounds fine to me. Heck, I'll even name mine, as I've just thought of it: You have to bring a 20-pack of Chicken McNuggets when we go to interrogate those prisoners."

Oswald has arrived.

The two knights, one Balor, one Fiona are taking outside the gate. Apparently about stakes. "Chicken McNuggets. Yeah, I can do that," Sealgaira says and then looks to the group. "Shall we head into the Drill Yard? Dame Cethleann and I are going to spar for some entertainment. Place your bets now with, well, someone make book and take bets!"

The actiona moves to Snow Fang Peak - Drill Yard

Snow Fang Peak - Drill Yard

The cobblestone floor of the drill yard spreads out in the wide area. The expanse is large enough to double as a market, without taking over more then half of it. Often, carts and wagons can be spotted there where traveling merchants have items of all kinds offered for sale, making their rounds through the duchy. The is clearly marked off so things can flow properly near the right side of the courtyard upon entering. Across the other way, there always seems to be a plume of smoke rising up from the workshop.

Up near the keep itself, there is a rack of various practice weapons under cover to keep them from being battered by the elements. A few archery targets are set up as well, punctured and well used. There are even arrows sticking out of them from time to time. A small area is even fenced off for sparring to keep it from spilling out across the drill yard for practice in close range combat. This is a place where the Ironborn can be seen moving to and fro, keeping order though they don't seem to offer any lessons in combat.

High walls encircle the court yard and braziers anchor the heat in the corners of it, dotting along it to make 'paths' through the area that can be followed with metal brackets meant to hold torches, should they wish to light the whole place up at night. Snow is quite quickly ground to slush, though the cobblestones are rough enough to keep from getting too slippery. Pockets of snow drifts are most often seen against the side of the walls where there is no foot traffic, as far from the braziers as they can get.

Miranda comes in from Snow Fang Peak - Path of Ice Miranda has arrived.

Oswald comes in from Snow Fang Peak - Path of Ice Oswald has arrived.

Micah comes in from Snow Fang Peak - Path of Ice Micah has arrived.

Erik has arrived.

Cait has just followed Dame Sealgaira (Alicia) into the Drill Yard, where the two are intent on sparring, both for their own enjoyment of the event, and to both educate and entertain others who've come to the Peak for the evening's socializing. "Yup," she nods, "A twenty-pack of McNuggets. Heck, I'll even let you feed them to Biggs, if you want." She looks over toward everyone else, and waves.

"Hello, everyone, and welcome to 'Girl Knights Gone Mild!' I'm your host, Cethleann the Bloodless of House Balor, and tonight, for your entertainment, a sidhe will bleed! Or two of them! But we're totally gonna wuss out on this and not go to the death, because frankly... that'd suck, and I don't have enough friends in this world to go running around killing them! So everyone find someplace comfortable, say hello to each other and be social, and Dame Sealgaira and I will commence with the beating the stuffing out of one another soon."

Oswald is leaning against one of the walls along the edge of the drill yard, towering over the space and watching the various small folk training. When the Sidhe show up and announce a match he moves over to watch that match, someone making a Sidhe bleed and its not him?

Miranda arrives stylishly lateish, knowing it is colder here, she has an a full length heavy wool cloak with fur around the edges. The hood is pulled up onto her head, and she carries furry muffler for her hands as well. Stylish and warm! "Greetings to one and all!"

Amberlee has arrived.

Sealgaira puts her helm on. "So, who is making book and taking bets? This is a not a duel to the death, just three wounds. No arts, no treasures, except as the items they are."

Amberlee pretty much lives here. She was totally expecting company though. Like that part at least is legit. As is usual when she's outside around here, she has a long fur cape that she stole from Caerwyn ages ago. It still looks better on her than it ever did on him. She strolls out and spots Oswald, of all people and she moves his way with a grin.

Oswald grins and offers a wave to Amberlee as she comes over and he answers the question about book making "Not I. Don't know either of the fighters well enough to give odds."

Cait chuckles, and slips her own spectacle helm onto her head before unlimbering her shield and drawing her perfectly-normal-not-one-of-those-ridiculous-things-you-see-in-movies axe from her belt to twirl it lightly in her right hand. "That's ok, neither do we." She pauses, "Well. I suppose we know ourselves, but we don't know one another that intimately yet." She turns her attention back to Sealgaira with a smirk, "But we shall..."

"Sun Tzu said if you know yourself, you will only win half the time. If you know your enemy and yourself, you will win all the time. So, equal odds," Sealgaira says, taking a guard position, with both hands on her sword, her armor freshly polished, gleaming in the lights. "En guard, Dame Cethleann."

Miranda shakes her head, and says, "Cheers to a good battle! I'm looking forward to seeing how you both fair."

Cait laughs. "Sun Tzu was a prick who never imagined people fucking up." She raises her shield and settles in behind it just as Sealgaira makes the first move.

The Fiona knight's blade tries to sneak in, slash at the arm supporting the shield, but her opponent is too quick, and the attack is turned aside. A second swing, this time forgoing fancy tactics, is turned aside as well.

Cethleann's counter is a hard swing of her axe, then another... and both crash loudly, but completely ineffectually, off of the Fiona's sidhe plate. Another swing by Sealgaira is dodged, and another swing of the axe bounces harmlessly off the plate.

They could be here a while.

Once the Balor's axe is turned by her plate, Sealgaira thrust her sword forward. Cait's shield isn’t quick enough to block the blow and the sword slices through Cait’s torso, drawing blood. Quickly, Sealgaira returns to a guard position.

Miranda cringes back, not sure about the fighting, and steps over closer to Amberlee.

Oswald is watching the fight carefully, and frowns slightly as he comments as an aside to Amberlee, and Miranda as well as she comes over, "Very fast and fancy. Favors accuracy over strength. Something to be said for it I guess."

Another thrilling exchange! Blows glance harmlessly off mail and plate! Then another swing of the axe, parried by the slender blade of the Fiona! But then....

Finally, Sealgaira gets another thrust of her sword past Cethleann’s shield. And scores a hit on the Balor’s right bicep. Blood spurts out of the fresh wound. Seeing the victory, the Fiona takes a step back and lowers her sword into a low guard. She waits for Cethleann to say something...

Miranda gasps a bit at the blood, but covers her mouth. She awaits Cethleann's reaction.

Cait grunts softly at this latest blow, and steps back as well, letting her axe hang at her side a bit limply... though her shield remains held at the ready. After a moment, and deep breath, she nods, "Very well fought, Dame Sealgaira. Congratulations. Though I dare say," She regains a bit of her smile as she shrugs, "Had we been using our full abilities... I probably wouldn't have lasted quite so long. Also... ow."

Amberlee is totally watching. When Miranda comes closer, she reaches out and hooks her arm through Miranda's in a companionable sort of way, murmuring something quietly to her

Oswald doesn't blink or shudder or gasp at the shed blood. No the Giant smirks. And then its over and he shrugs "I've certainly seen worse."

Sealgaira goes to clean her sword off with her blood red cloak to resheath it. She takes her helm off and reattaches her cloak. Because it's all about looking good. Then she walks over to Cethleann. "Well fought!" Then the Fiona cups the Balor's cheeks with both hands and kisses her right on the mouth.

Cait is just shifting her shield back over her shoulder when the Fiona approaches, and is caught completely unawares.

Miranda nods to Amberlee as she speaks to her. "Oh, that makes sense." She looks as Sealgaira kisses Cethleann. "Well, I should have expected that one."

Amberlee smirks at Miranda and nods. "And amusing if you look at it like I said"

Sealgaira, now tinged with the magic of spring, swirls about, and bright green energy surrounds her. "Hear me O Spring, O well of life! Heal our wounds from duels and strife!" For a brief moment, ethereal leaves sprout from midair in a helix around the Fiona knight. Then, she takes Cethleann's hand. "To feel better."

Cait blinks a few times as she's unexpectedly kissed, then takes half a step back again before glancing over toward the Baroness and Amberlee in... alarm? Worry? 'Oh shit did they see that?' Who knows! She quickly looks back to Sealgaira, though, and nods, taking another deep breath before saying, "Thank you, Dame Sealgaira... I am... very much restored. As I said, you are very skilled with your magical abilities, as well as your blade. I'll look forward to hearing what your favor will be."

Miranda smiles as she sees the healing performed. "Good show, both of you. I'm very pleased that you were able to test each other and came out of it with only... some sloppy kisses and some minor clean up now."

Amberlee snorts a little and shakes her head. "Ah, those Spring kisses. I know them well." She gives Miranda's arm a little squeeze, then lets it go so she can applaud - it's probably for the fight, not the kiss

Once Cethleann is all healed up, Sealgaira goes over to Miranda to give her a bow. "My Lady. I hope you enjoyed the sparring session. Good sport, good fun."

Cait follows behind, and gives a bow of her own, though she follows it up with her customarily amused smirk. "Sloppy kisses? My lady, your good knight is a very skilled Artist... but I promise, I didn't drool that much at the kiss."

Miranda laughs! "See! A rave review! But seriously, I did enjoy it, especially after the tip Amberlee gave to me."