(1865-09-18) Love, Passion and the Joust
(1865-09-18) Love, Passion and the Joust
Summary: What is love, passion and the joust
Date: 1865-09-18
Related: None
NPCs: {$npc}
Players:
Renlar  Lianna  Amadeus  

Darnis Training Grounds
After the Tournament the grounds have been turned back to the intended purpose, a training field.
1865-18-09

The training grounds are all but empty in the shadows of the castles. It's a perfect backdrop for that which is happening. A wagon has been pulled up, fill of gear that a Tournament Knight would have: Lances, swords, horses and two squires. Two horses, black war horses are tied to the wagon, both are drinking water and being brushed down as they are covered in sweat. Out at the lists, there is a Knight upon another black war horse, full armor, as if facing an opponent But there is none, just a practice target with a weighted bag on the other end. Broken lances lay about, Obvioulsly this has been going on for some time. The Knight pulls his horse up to the third squire and hands him another broken lance while flipping his visor of his helm up. "Who ever made those lances, they are not balanced right!" He reaches for another and slams the visor down right before he takes off on another run. The flying dirt, the thunder of the horse and then a sharp crack as the target is hit dead on and the lance shatter. Renlar turns the horse back, pats him on the neck before he begins to make his way back to the wagon.

The training grounds may be all but empty, aye, but the dirt path that is almost a road but not quite that runs alongside the training ground is infrequently traveled but traveled all the same. Atop that ill tempered war horse that she's named Faran, Lianna is returning from a riding circuit around the city. In the wake of the assault on the city the wounded that could depart the city, have. those that can't, and have needed further assistance, have taken to camping near the city, and it is these little tent cities that she has been spending her time this long afternoon. Hearing the distinctive voice of Sir Renlar, Lianna slows Faran's pace then guides the gray Roan into the training ground, approaching where the wagon is pulled up and the squires are hustling about. "Terrorizing your squires, Sir Renlar?" she calls as the knight approaches the wagon. "Have you no other way to amuse yourself?"

The helm is tossed down to one sandy haired squire right before Renlar slides off his horse with a clatter of armor. His head is soaked, much like the hide of his horse, a gauntleted hand tries to push most of it out of his eyes. Hearing the voice He turns, his face serious and the normal smile is absent. It takes a moment to pinpoint the source "Lady Lianna," he greets. The jovality is gone, he's all business at the moment. Two squires come over and as Renlar holds his arms out they begin to remove his armor. He looks at the squires and then back at Lianna "Terrorizing? No, not really, just having them do what they signed up to." Each piece is remove till he is standing there in his sweat soaked tunic and brown leather pants that show the stains of his workout. "And what brings you out here?" Finally a touch of his other self rings in his voice, not so serious but it still holds an edge. He looks to the black haired squire "The next time, Johan, you bring me lances like that I shall be sending you back to your family. I have never had ones so bad." Another comb of his hair with fingers he moves to a water skin and greedily drinks "Everyone all healed up, My Lady?"

Lianna waits patiently as Sir Renlar's squires do the messy work of divesting the knight of his armor, accepting the dressing down as well without complaint apparently from their knight before leaving the knight in tunic and pants. Something akin to amusement gleams in her eyes, "Shall I add sweaty and fragrant to your terrorizing act, Sir Renlar?" she wonders, head tilting subtly as she asks this question. The breeze, what there is of it, barely stirs the air but it's just enough for her to discern that he has indeed been at this practice for long enough to wear the results of his efforts. "Those that are healed, are well on their way. Those who will bear lasting marks are on the mend. Not all wounds are easily bandaged or stitched, set or swept aside." She casts a somewhat longer look over the D'Lario knight, "You appear healthy enough," not said in a grudging voice but with a fine edge that is almost amusement, as though baiting the knight to come up with something she can banter back against.

The water skin is turned over his head leaving a stream down Renlar's hair and face before he shakes it off and only drops remain to fall. He then moves to where Lianna sits up on her horse "Training is training, My Lady. If one doesn't do it as it should be done then why do it?" Another shake of his hair sends a few more drops to fly, even possibly landing on her boot or pants (or what ever it is she is wearing). A deep breath "Are you suggesting I stink, My Lady?" The twinkle that has been in his eye was gone but now it seems to be returning. His gear is being packed, the last horse, the one with the white star on it's forehead is being brushed down. "Extra grain with One, I shall be using him at Kentaire." The squires nod, not replying but they also do not stop their work. As Lianna speaks of the wounded he listens, "Well, battle will do that. It's a shame, really. Why they fight like that with nothing to really gain but their lives are forfeit if they loose. Wasteful. But if not for the attack, we would be discussing other matters, no?"

Lianna makes a good showing of sniffing at the air, "I wouldn't exactly say that you don't, or that I'm not precisely suggesting that," she replies with a fine trace of a smile. She glances down at droplets land on one of her boots and the leg of her trousers, one eyebrow arching subtly upward, something she still does not regret spending the time training those specific facial muscles to do. "I'll add untidy to the list," she decides, lips quirking as she doesn't entirely conceal the grin of amusement. "If you're speaking of the invaders, I would imagine they thought this city would be easily taken, i'm sure it was an easy sell to get all those soldiers to sign up. And if they'd won, i imagine yes, this conversation would be entirely different."

Renlar raises an arm and sniffs himself. "Perhaps you are right, I do stink. But you know, it's a good stink. It was earned in something real, something that truly matters." He does notice the wet spots on her pants and boots but does nothing to show he cares or not. "It's just water," he tells her. He lowers his head as he combs his hair once more, leaving a few spikes to stick up as he does. "See, a waste. They died, the citizens of Four Corners died, men and women fighters died and for what? Little to nothing in my book. Combat is a looser on both sides. Though I helped, I would have much rather been back in the castle, drinking and womanizing. Not out there," he waves his hands in the direction of the city "fighting." A deep breath is taken in "So will you be going to Kentaire?" He asks changing the subject from the one of war, one he will gladly rail against.

"So, in your book, it would have been far easier to, what, simply fall back and let the invaders have the city instead of fighting for it?" Lianna wonders in a quiet, mild, tone of voice, her voice mostly empty of inflection as she wonders this. "How inconvenient for you, the assault on the city cutting into your drinking and whoring time, how inconsiderate," she adds, her tone faintly arch.

"No, the White Hall invaders were idiots to attack. Look, they left their dead in droves, for what?" Renlar finally smiles at her pointing out how inconsiderate it was "Exactly! My point exactly. See, My Lady, there are three things that are important to me. One," he holds up a single finger "Drink. I think that is self explanatory. Two." two fingers "Women. For Women are the most fascinating creatures in all the world. So complex, so exciting, so beautiful, so fragile and yet at the same time so strong. And Three," three fingers go up "Joust. For no other endeavor in all of man's creation is there anything more exciting, more thrilling, more encompassing. It makes your blood flow, you feel alive! Do you know what it's like to Joust, My Lady?"

"I'm . . sure that the women that you .. spend your time with are quite pleased by your assessment of their charms. Fascinating, complex, etcetera," Lianna walks that uneven balance between amusement and offense. As usual. "And, no, I don't know what it's like to joust. I do know what it's like to pull splinters of lances out of wounds, set broken bones of both the rider and the horse, etcetera. So, to be fair, not the actual act of jousting, but the aftermath of."

A grin spreads on Renlar "I would assume the women do, My Lady. For what other creature can a man love with all his being yet at the same time they can get him so mad that he could strangle them? No, you misunderstand, I love women, all women, but /I - love - the - joust!/" His eyes go up to meet Lianna's, a sparkle in his, "Oh, My Lady," he says softly and passionately "Nothing compares. At first you feel the nerves, sweat runs down your back as you line up." Each sentence is built upon the other till the end his passion has risen and his voice is deep and nearly commanding "Then the world fades away, only your target at the far end. When the flag flies you feel the horse between your legs, it's muscles fighting to get to speed. Each pounding hoof is felt. The air floods your helm, then you feel nothing, you hear nothing. The crowd, the pageantry, the cheering, it /all/ fades from view. You only hear your heart beat going faster and faster with each step of the horse yet time seems to slow and then stop. Your breathing comes deep, fast, it's like you scream for air. Your vision collapses till there is nothing but the end of your lance the target as you begin to seep the lance to meet your opponent. Then, that moment. That very special moment when your lance makes contact, you feel it with all your body. Then the crash of lance as it penetrates the armor and shatters. Ecstasy, that's all I can say it is." It takes a bit of time before he goes on. He smiles "My Lady." With a tilt of his head "You didn't answer my earlier question, are you going to Kentaire?"

Lianna studies Sir Renlar in silence as he speaks, though mere speech is not adequate enough to convey the gist of his words. she studies him, a rather frank, if quiet, study until he asks again his question regarding the tournament. "You genuinely love it," she muses aloud, sounding somehow surprised by this, and looking a trifle perplexed at the same time. "I would not have thought there was such intensity to the contest, such as it is, but from your words, I gather there's more to it than just riding, full tilt, at each other in the list, with sticks pointed just so until one or the both of you go crashing to the ground with splinters in your teeth or worse." She shakes her head, slowly, frankly studying the D'Lario knight for another silent moment before she shakes herself slightly, straightening in the saddle. "We are, yes. I'm not sure if both my brothers intend to compete, or if both Jarret and Thaddeus intend to, but I'm sure it'll be some combination of that mix."

"My Lady," he says deeply and passionately "When in the lists, as you thunder down the world goes away. There is no death, there is no pain, there is no suffering. There is," a deep breath is taken in by Renlar "there is only life. Nothing makes me feel so alive than those few seconds in the list, while other's just watch from the sidelines. I feel sorry for them, for they do not know what it is like to feel so alive, from your toes to the top of your head." He grins up at Lianna. There is a long pause as he collects his breath, much like that time needed after being with a woman. A big last breath "I do understand that Lord Jarret will be there," he doesn't mention his and Jarret's last conversation but he has heard it on the lips of those in the city. Maybe he is judging her reaction.

"It's Jarret," Lianna replies, amusement in her tone of voice. "If there's a contest of some sort, he'll be there. Probably getting hit upside the head," she mutters in a wry tone of voice. "What is it with the lot of you not wearing proper helmets," she wonders, not quite a question but more of a vexed observation. "We do intend to depart shortly, however, if they can just decide if we're going to go overland or sail then inland," she runs one hand lightly over her hair then reaches down to pat Faran on the side of his neck. "Not that I fancy taking the long way, but I don't get to make the deciding vote."

Renlar smirks "Oh, the melee," his voice has lost that passion it had just held and he dismisses it with a wave of his hand. "Barbaric at best, boring at worst." Yep, that's pretty much it. Boring is bad. Really bad. "I do it only because it has to be done to gain the points to win the Tournament. I like the smaller Tournaments, where the winner of the Joust is the Tournament champion. The melee," again he waves his hand in dismissal "Mostly luck and only if you have the allies to watch your back. But, as I said, it must be tolerated." He moves a bit closer to Lianna as she sits upon her horse. Maybe to close to be called proper. He smiles up to her "Passion, that's what life is about, /Lady/ Lianna. For with out that blood pounding, breath taking, emotional explosion of passion then it's not living. It's existing. Fire is what is needed, a fire down here," he touches his midsection "It has to burn and burn hotly. Else it's like the smoldering fire. It produces little heat, there are no flames to captivate one's attention and, as in life, it will then fade leaving only a wanting in it's passing." He lets the words settle there, between them. When she mentions sail he shudders "I"m not going by boat, I shall be going over land with my cousin Sebryna." A sly smile comes to him, "Any idea how my other cousin, Amadeus, will be traveling?"

The big warhorse that Lianna is riding shifts first one hoof then another, swishing that long tail from side to side as Renlar approaches. The signal is subtle, but then, for a well trained war horse, the signals can be any number of things, subtle or really loud and noisy. She makes a subtle signal, a press of one knee against Faran's side and the big roan angles his head around, flares his nostrils then snaps his teeth at Renlar once he's to close. "Careful," she says in a mild tone of voice, "he bites," which is the only warning she's going to issue. "And that's a good question, not one that I'm able to answer right now, as i can't speak for Lord Amadeus or Lady Sebryna."

"So do I, My Lady," Renlar states matter of factly about the biting. He lingers there, close for a time before he does take a step back, smiling "Sebryna is traveling with me. We have already made the travel plans. I am guessing we will be leaving with in the next few days. As I said, over land. It gives one time in the saddle and a peace. Not to mention time to practice as well." He runs his hands over his head once again, smoothing it down where it stays due to the wetness of it.

Speaking of the twins, one half of them bravely shows his face as he comes wandering from town, and more precise, the market. Hurried steps as he wanders towards the fortifications. Spotting the two conversing. "Lady Lianna. Cousin Renlar. Pleasure to see you both." He offers, giving a small bow of his head their way.

Lianna's eyes narrow subtly at Renlar, though she doesn't suggest to the big roan that he actually bite the D'Lario knight, though she is tempted. Very. Very tempted. "She's traveling with you, over land then?" she asks in return, sounding somewhat surprised and a bit, if oddly, dismayed by this news. "I'm sure the practice will be useful," she adds before turning slightly as she spots Amadeus making his way into the mostly empty training in the shade of the fortifications. "Deus," she says with a smile. "We were just speaking about travel plans to the next tournament."

Renlar turns when he hears the voice, he looks up at Lianna and then back to Amadeus "Cousin," he greets "What perfect timing, we were just talking about you. Where your ears burning?" Renlar is there, a wagon with his three war horses tied up, squires go about packing his items except the multitude of broken lances. Out on the practice list there stands about mid way a practice target, it is battered and beaten and the wounds it suffers seems to be fresh. Ren is wet with sweat, standing there now in his tunic and brown leather pants. As Lianna speaks of what they were talking about he nods in agreement, but a mischievous smile is turned her way. Maybe he can read her mind, but more likely it was the body language. "She is, yes. We discussed it the other night," Ren explains to Lianna "How shall you be traveling, Deus, to Kentaire?" There seems no doubt to Ren's question that he expects his cousin to go.

Amadeus smiles to them both as his brows lift. "That so?" He asks about travel plans. Though laughing as Renlar asks about his burning ears. "Ah, yes. I could feel a cold burning sort of sensation." Comes the playful reply as he grins at them both. "How will you be getting there, sir Renlar?" He asks before looking to Lianna. "And as for you?" He adds. Looking between them curious as he doesn't know what he missed. Though as Ren turns back to talk about him he nods. "I have not planned it out too much yet. I am just certain I will be there, to aid my sister and most likely you as well, if nothing else." Although it's likely there's more he could do.

Lianna aims another somewhat wary look at Renlar, one of the three usual looks she aims at the knight. Wary, skeptical or curious, usually in that order. The big roan angles his head again, nostrils flaring again as the roan aims one eye then quirks one ear at Deus. "We haven't actually decided yet. Otto is suggesting that we sail and then ride inland. Brenn thinks we should hire or purchase a wagon to carry all of their gear and just ride the entire way. I think Thad is taking votes at this point before making a final decision," she moves one shoulder in a shrug. "I'm not entirely fond of the idea of riding the entire way OR driving a wagon."

"Sebryna and I will be traveling over land, the plan is to leave in two days," Renlar says to Deus. He does chuckle at the formality of Deus "Sir Renlar? Not just Ren, Lord Amadeus?" He grins then adds as he continues to speak to Deus but now and then he cuts his eyes to Lianna "I"ve put a wager on the Tournament. Five crowns for the one that ends the highest in the Tournament. It's with Sir Jarret," and with that he does let his eyes linger on Lianna before he shrugs. Dues probably knows Ren's love of gambling and probably knows he is really not to good at it."

Amadeus chuckles a bit. "Sounds quite divided. And you only prefer sailing because you're used to it." He teases the lady. "Although I think either option is quite fine, really." Shrugging a bit. Moving a bit closer towards Faran, if allowed. Since the two have been on decent terms at least. "Ah, I see. Is my sister feeling better? I've not gotten to see her much since she was able to leave the infirmary." Rolling his eyes a bit. Though nothing ill-mannered. Shaking his head though as they speak of the wager. "Ah, I see. I am sure my sister shall beat you both then." He teases with a wide grin.

"You're gambling, WITH my cousin, as to the outcome of the tournament?" Lianna asks, sounding somewhat incredulous and annoyed at the same time. "Brilliant. Next you'll be encouraging him to spend more time drinking, and whoring, and making an ass of himself in public," she mutters and aims the fourth look at Renlar, annoyance. She exhales, a slow breath, a calming breath, and gives a breath of laughter as the big roan flicks another ear at Deus and angles his head, inviting Deus to scratch behind that one ear. "I like sailing, and it's much faster. Plus, with Otto at the helm, i'm sure we'll get there much faster, which I'm also in favor of."

"The talk I have heard is that you have been very preoccupied, Dues," Ren says again cutting his eyes to Lianna momentarily. "Heard about it in the Inn the other night." He grins and waves his hand "But how much can you believe in a place with a lot of loose tongues made even looser by ale? But she is fine, still a little sore but other than that she is Bryna." He laughs "She may just do that, I have no doubt. But that's not the bet with Sir Jarret, it's who, between he and I, that ends with the highest points will win. The only problem we have is to have a neutral party hold the coin. I suggested a good trustworthy Northerner but he wanted a Southerner. Which I would not go for at all." He smiles up to Lianna "Present company excluded My Lady. But I don't think you would want to hold the coin in your kin's bet." He turns his head, nodding as if saying "But of course," which is then mouthed. "I feel its a sure bet. Besides I can use the extra coin after missing the Four Corner's Tournament. Do you know how much it cost me and the only thing I got out of it was to be thrust into a fight I did not want to be a part of?" He shrugs "Well he did mention something about finding a good Inn in Kentaire. I told him I would be glad to show him around." When she speaks of sailing, it's almost as if Ren turns green at the thought. "Well be sure to tell me how the trip is then, I will besure to tell you about the country side. YOu can tell me of the endless waters with little else to see."

Laughing as they speak of Jarret it just makes Amadeus grin a bit. "Oh, I am sure it will be fine." He tries to reassure Lianna. "Perhaps I'll try to speak to him as well." He suggests, grinning a bit as he moves to scratch the horse behind the ear. "Indeed, I understand. I just worry that they might have gotten less safe, what with the raidings." He suggests, shaking his head a bit. "Though I am sure it should be fine if you have enough ships sailing." Raising a brow at Renlar as well, as well as giving a short chuckle at that. "I have been busy. A lot of it has been running around the infirmary seeing to the injured. When not I've been trying to find new books to add to my collection, as well as a ride the other day." He offers, shrugging a bit. "Lady Lianna has been kind enough to keep my company, I admit." Nodding about his sister. Continuing to listen to what Ren offers. "Ah, stop complaning now, cousin. It doesn't fit you." He teases. Though at the talk of the trip he just falls silent and grins at them both.

Ren just laughs, hold up his hands in surrender to them both "I'm," he chuckles again "just saying what I heard." He nods to Dues "You've always been good at healing, something that just never, well, took with me." He shrugs as if it really doesn't matter to him, Lianna would know what does. This is followed with an empahtic "No," shaking his head vigorously "I shall keep my feet on the ground. I have yet to see a horse sink and kill everyone. Not to mention that riding is a lot easier on the stomach than on the lurching and heaving and," yes, he is turning a bit green "We are taveling overland." He turns from the two, making his way to his horse that remained saddled. The Squires are ready in the wagon and after gaining the saddle he smiles "It's been lovely, we have to do this again. But I do suggest to keep from tongues wagging it helps to be discrete. Now me, I could care less if they wag. I'd be more than happy to help spread rumors about my self if asked to," Ren laughs and turns his horse. The spurs urging them on. The wagon creeks along with him, and his voice can be heard talking to the squires "Sailing, really. But this way we can get more training," which causes a slight groan from the squires "And you can keep your eyes out for some good lances, and I mean /good/ lances along the way." He drones on, as he soon leaves earshot.

Unless otherwise stated, the content of this page is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 License