Petal cringes slightly at the sight of Theodore, before asking Onyx. “Do you mind if I join the combatants, help them get ready and clean any wounds? And if we do have a no show, I guess I could step in?“

"Good luck then to your house." Theodore Pedryas replies curtly with a nod. "Until we meet on the field," he adds walking away.

"The Light shines through all who are worthy," the human female cleric says following behind her charge.

As the Pedryas take they're leave Onyx turns to the party.

"The next contest is in two hour my friends. We will be able to venture out into the tournament grounds if we want but myself and the queen...queen mother will be retiring to the tent until they call the next round," King Onyx explains before moving towards the tent area.

OOC: opportunity to check out the tournament grounds and other houses or we can move on after a 'short rest' to the next event.

Varen looks at Ran, and blushes slightly. "It's... petty. I walked over to offer condolences for what happened to his family. And, well, he was a jackass in response."

She looks around, making sure no Peydras or Lightbringer types are near (Perception: 23). "I've met his cousin. Recently in fact. He had nothing but... colorful language to describe how much he hated his family. Seems he was right."

"Sooo... I figured I'd try to see if I could mess with the princeling's head... just a tiny bit of psychological warfare. Doesn't seem like it worked well, though he did miss his last round. He's probably too stuck up his own ass to have noticed." 

The young woman rubs the back of her neck with her hand, looking a bit embarrased that she was being so noticable.

OOC: Ramsey Pedryas was a cousin FYI.

Varen sees no Lightbringer folks around.

OOC: So he is. Varen has better memory than me. FIxed.

Two hours pass as rhe party takes time to rest and to discuss tactics for the hand to hand. The event is announced and once again the party leaves the tent to join the other houses on the tournament grounds. The king and queen mother rejoin their house in the stands with Ronegan and Petal.

OOC: This event points are gained by basic damage accumulated within the one on one fight. The objected is for one opponent take the other opponent to 1 HP. Each round that elapses between the first to the last with 1 HP could potentially effected the final score. If over 6 rounds the fight will be called whoever has the most HP will be the winner. Questions?

In a similar fashion to archery the above information is announced to the hand to hand opponents. Each house has three warriors step up while Ran and Varen stand waiting until finally Opal appears on the field but wearing brand new armour, now a paladin of the Lightbringer!

OOC: I will allow conversation with Opal but roll initiative for each of the groups but we're going to match up opponents by random group rolls. Ran and Varen please roll a d6 I have marked each house the 6 that are left out of 7 minus Firstforge with a d6 for your opponents.

d6 Fight against/Initiative order

1 Turco 3

2 Celaeno 16

3 Dhkar 15

4 Pedryas 18

5 Vahar 5

6 Marshfield 6

Opal opponent 5/4

Opal is fighting a Marshfield; #awkward it's her betrothed family

OOC: Varen and Ran roll initiative. If you get Opal or another party members opponent you will roll again.

Ran: Opponent: 5 Initiative: 21 (and am going with Ran has healed his 1 hp of damage from the broken bow during their short rest)

"I'm happy to see you look well, your highness," Ran says to Opal when she arrives.

Quote from Killilli >>

Petal cringes slightly at the sight of Theodore, before asking Onyx. “Do you mind if I join the combatants, help them get ready and clean any wounds? And if we do have a no show, I guess I could step in?“

Retro-post:

"Yes, Petal. Join them if you wish," Onyx replies.

OOC: Everyone who wants to be 'on the field' can. I just thought you could rub elbows and ask the other houses about their attacks. Turco is the only house anyone met with directly. Everything else us hearsay/rumor, accusations, or second hand. Just saying....

Opal looks at Ran. She only seems focused on the task at hand.

"I can't say I find much honor being among you...what I know now I fight for the memory of my father and nothing else," Opal replies curtly moving away towards a robed figure who is very familiar.

Tigana Prendergast appears to be joining the Firstforge 'sidelines' for the event. Leaning towards Opal she whispers something and Opal gives a hard glare towards the stands. There her twin brother the king sits with their veiled mother. Opal then focuses her attention on her greataxe sharpening the blades.

OOC Edited this post with new interactions based on the previous post, had posted simultaneously.

Opponent: 5

Initiative: 23

Varen begins to go to her friend, when Opal so curtly rebukes Ran, and she spies Prendergast. She pauses a second, looking concerned, before continuing.

"Inquisitor." Varen says curtly to the woman, before looking at Opal. She gives her a warm smile "Your highness, congratulations! I know joining the fight against the Darkness is a path you wanted to walk. I'm happy for you... we should celebrate later, after the combat."

Ran leans over to Varen and says "I think you've got your work cut for you to bring that one back to the fold."

He then moves away away from Varen and Opal as Varen tries to find out more from the newly minted paladin. He looks at the other competitors for the hand-to-hand, looking to see if he recognizes anyone either from his old days as a soldier or from his work as an emissary. While looking he wanders through the other groups getting a feel for who will be fighting.

He nods a greeting to Kay Tregallis if he's participating.

"Looks like we don't get to compete against each other. That could have been fun."

Ran give me a history check.

OOC: I think Viper posted while I edited. Is Varen approaching Opal with Tigana nearby or no? It's not too out of character for Varen to be outspoken but it might change her words knowing the audience.

Before Ran heads off to size up his competition, Petal gives him a concerned look. 

Panicked, as Petal sees Prendergasts watchful eye on Varen she hurries over nervously, “Come along Varen, we need to get you cleaned up before your bout. We can’t have you standing next to Opal like this, not when you are representing the Firstforges.” Petal tries to drag her away into a changing tent.

OOC Yeah, the edits werent there when I posted. Let me reassess.

Ran History Check : 8 

In the box, Ronegan grips the seat in front of him until his knuckles turn white as he watches Opal emerge. He was convinced he had taught her better than that -- that the girl's relationship with her mother....with Varen would still win out. Even so, as he  watches Opal carefully, he leans in to the Queen Mother and asks "Your Highness, what exactly happened after King Onyx departed with us yesterday? Did...did you receive other visitors after we had left? Was Opal with you the entire time? Something is afoot here and I...can't quite put my finger on it.

(OOC: Roughly how far away is the box from the field of combat?)

"I will not be returning to the house apartments. As you see I am now a member of the church and will act accordingly with my order's commands and responsibilities. I...I thank you for your congratulations," she pauses glancing at Tigana before looking at Varen, "may the Light shine on your path and guide your sword always towards justice," she adds but seems unwilling to continue to speak.

Ran sees Kay with the Turco opponents and recognizes a few other house warriors from his formal training with the guards. Each house looks formidable and their warriors capable of fighting well. His own opponents amongst the Vahar house, the house of the high king, Ran can see two burly half-elven men in full-plate and a tall dark skinned female human. She's not wearing any visible armor and wears crimson clothing. She's practices stances with long and lean limbs. She moves artfully and quick, she is a monk most likely. Only her and another amongst the Pedryas house look inclined to practice such combat. Everyone else seems armed or heavily armored!

"Yes," Kay begins, "your friend there..." He pauses to point out Varen, "is she as good with a sword as she is at stealing hearts," he adds grinning at Ran then admiring Varen again.

From the stands...

Ronegan asks the queen mother his question and she sighs loudly her expressions unreadable through the veil.

"This is neither the time nor the place to discuss such things. Too many unfriendly eyes and ears here," Queen Citrine says worrying her gloved hands as Jasper leans over having overheard Ronegan his expression hard.

"Let's not discuss anything in the recent past," Jasper begins his expression harder still, "but you school master should remember your place," he adds curtly taking queen mother Citrine's hand and patting it. "Might you leave the stands to join your friends there. They might have more need of your...counsel," he adds gesturing at the tournament grounds and the party.

Onyx looks over at Ronegan shaking his head with a frown.

"It's a spectators day master Gallowglass. Might we forget recent....events and focus on the tournament," Onyx says his face softening slightly but not much as his eyes return to the tournament grounds.

OOC: plenty of time was lost to discuss things in the privacy of the tents but no one posted so I moved us on. Ronegan could attempt persuasion but at disadvantage.

After the tournament, Elavor slipped into the tent and took a quick rest. Upon the announcement of the new tournament, he will get up and find anyone selling drinks. Preferably alcoholic beverages. 

After he finds a drink, he'll find a high seat in the stands, casually sit and sip on his beverage. Using the drink as a cover, he will keep a look out for anything or anyone amiss. He's going to be scanning the crowds for any signs of outside interference during the event, any saboteurs (magical or otherwise), or just anything that catches his interest in general. 

(Perception: 18 )

Ronegan looks at the Queen Mother's brother with hard eyes, and says in an uncharacteristic snarl. "Oh, yes, I do know my place, Lord Jasper. I knew it when I was serving this family for over a decade and then again just a few days ago when I took several wounds fighting off those who slay those who would have killed all these people, and again when I signed up for the Gauntlet to prove this family's honor. Where was your place in all of this then?"

Turning to the King, now, Ronegan shakes his head. "Be wary of who you take counsel from boy. I thought I taught you better than to believe that history shouldn't be discussed because its so unpleasant or even if we are under observation. Do you think a flimsy tent or even your apartments are secure? There are always eyes upon us in this cursed place. Information is the currency of kings. Its the true source of power. Been true as long as creatures have drawn breath."

With that, Ronegan turns on his heel, exits the booth, goes to the nearest vendor, and orders the largest porter they have before settling in next to Elavor. He drinks half his drink in one gulp, wiping his mouth and seething. "I despise bullies, Elavor." He mutters, looking up at the booth, Jasper in particular. "Bullies and idiots."

Ran laughs at Kay's comments.

"Careful," he says. "she can definitely handle herself. She might not be a muscle bound oaf like us, but she could literally steal a man's heart with a couple of quick slices and hold it up for him to admire before he realized what was happening. If you're up against her, do yourself a favor and be a gentleman. Fight as hard as you like, but watch what you say. Good luck."

Seeing the half-elves in full plate armor, Ran heads back to the Firstforge tent to see if they have anything lying around in his size. Given the competition, he can't afford to give them any advantages they haven't earned.

Petal leads Varen by the hand to the Firstforge tent and into a private chamber. She starts rubbing away at the leather on her armour and sighs, “Hmm, I can clean it, but these studs are....” She makes a retching face before gesturing her to sit and starting to arrange her hair, tying it together with pink and blue flowers.

She whispers in Varens ear, ”Back in my tribe we had a blessing, we learnt it from the bears who would persevere through great hardship. Now I know it’s a risk for me to use my gifts, but either Ran or you need to win this! I’ve seen Ran’s fear over magic, but you.... I’ve seen the things you do to yourself, you’re not scared at all. I can give you the resilience and vitality of a bear to help you win this!”