Second Turn!
England; the Dark Ages; by a bridge; shortly after half four in the afternoon. Begin shouting Incomprehensibly and gesturing behind him with great urgency.
Sir Conchobar the Gruesome begins shouting incomprehensibly, waving his arms in a flurry of ugliness and gesturing behind the Black Knight with considerable urgency [5]. It is not immediately clear what this achieves; the Black Knight is stoic beneath his steel helmet. Perhaps he is flustered, perhaps he is worried: one cannot tell.
Challenge the black knight ... to a DRINKING contest
[Init vs Sir Feyman=6 vs 5]
“Noble Knight!” announces
Sir Meynard the Sure, “I and my companions must pass: we are on the God-granted quest to find the Holy Grail.”
No reply comes from within the Black Knight’s steely mask.
“Being Wise and Chivalrous beyond the ken of normal men, I abhor violence: I thusly challenge you… to a DRINKING contest.”
Still no sound breaks the Black Knight’s impenetrable wall of silence.
“With… Ale!”
“Oh, all right then,” suddenly replies the Black Knight, “Here, come and take a seat in my tent. I do quite fancy a pint.”
Sir Meynard and the Black Knight cross the bridge to the fearsome stranger’s tent beside it, and the Black Knight shows Sir Meynard the row of barrels beside his meager belongings. They are filled with Ale. Black Ale. Strong and tasty Black Ale, thick like the very coal of Yorkshire itself. At the Black Knight’s beckoning, Sir Meynard sits. The Black Knight does likewise, and, opening a barrel, passes it silently over the table to Sir Meynard. He opens another, and, at Sir Meynard’s signal, the two Knights begin to drink.
... ... ... ... ... ...
Around an hour later, the bored companions of Sir Meynard mill about on the other side of the bridge. They watch the sixth empty barrel fly forcefully out of the Black Knight’s tent and collectively groan a little; Maddy the Falcon Handler shifts from foot to foot a little impatiently at his master’s excess. Suddenly, shortly after the sound of an eighth barrel being opened wafts across the chasm, the victor emerges, triumphant!
The Black Knight strolls unsteadily back to his place in front of the bridge; he carries, with, some might say, newly acquired superhuman strength, the defeated Meynard before him. He places the knight carefully upon the ground, and Maddy quickly runs over to check his master [6]. The Black Knight seems once more to ignore the gesticulating and incomprehensible Sir Conchobar: perhaps these are some of the rumoured less traditional knights, questing with a favoured idiot, an intellectually deficient who by the Grace of God is permitted to ramble nonsensically for the good of their souls.
State Entered! Incredibly Drunk!
Challenge the black knight to his game of choice - swordplay.
[Init vs Sir Meynard=5 vs 6]
Enraged but somehow not entirely surprised at his companion’s defeat,
Sir Feyman the Judging steps forward towards the questers’ imposing foe, and draws his sword with an audible slicing of the air about him.
“En garde! I, Sir Feyman the Judging, challenge you for possession of this bridge!”
Sir Keardwall shall stride foward, his craggy features glaring at this miscreant, and support his brave companion Sir Feynard in his challenge.
Possibly giving a few entirely unhelpful tips and tricks regarding swordplay, since well, he knows no-one is as good with a blade as he!
At this
Sir Keardwall the Stony strides purposefully forward, glaring at the Black Knight like some form of righteous rock [4]. He leans forwards to speak into Sir Feyman's ear.
"Sir; I have fought in many battles, and defeated many knights of many colours in many duels: heed what I have to say. You would do well to avoid his blade, good knight."
[Init Sir Feyman vs Black Knight = 5 vs 5]
Not quite sure what to make of his comrade's intervention, Sir Feyman turns back to the task at hand, and seconds later Sir Feyman and the Black Knight charge towards each other as one. At the last moment the Black Knight looks briefly to his rear, seemingly preoccupied; then he glances to the fore, and see the sternly featured Sir Keardwall: and then his heavy blade sweeps through the air as Sir Feyman leaps unknightly-like above him. Upon landing on the other side behind the Black Knight, Sir Feyman realises his left arm has been sliced clean off! Blood spurts out in a crimson jet! He looks behind him to see where it has fallen; and as he does so the Black Knight’s cleanly sliced body falls in two [6+1 distraction bonus] before the assembled and dumbstruck spectators!
Aghast, Maine walks over to where the severed arm lies in a pool of blood and picks it up.
Wound Acquired! Left Arm Sliced Off!
Title Gained! Slayer of the Black Knight!
Chivalry Increased! +2
As the four members of the Knights’ retinues pick up the incredibly drunk Sir Meynard, the questing Knights quest forth, Sir Keardwall muttering something to himself about
I tried to bloody tell him... idiot.... ... ... ... ... ...
Shortly before dusk, as the shadows lengthen about them on the edge of the great forest of Celidon, they come to a village.
They must seek shelter for the night, but they have a little time before the darkness draws in. Name: Sir Keardwall the Stony.
Bio: So named for his rather unyielding demeanour towards his foes, and those of God and the King, Sir Keardwall the Stony was a natural choice for such a quest as this. Bearing a near-permanent frown, stout forehead and a square, manly beard, not to mention his well-kept armour, Sir Keardwell is the very picture of courage and skill-at-arms.
Enjoys fighting for King and Country, feasting heartily, and glaring stonily at those who cross him. Apart from his lance he wields a broadsword and a shield, upon which is displayed his family's crest, which involves a castle on a mountain guarded by a red dragon. He would never dream of refusing such a mission from his Lord, but of course the sorry state of his financial affairs offered an extra incentive to set out on this grand journey. After all, what born warrior would wish to be cooped up in a castle all day, counting tithes and taxes when he could be out doing great deeds?!
Traits Fearsome frown of fierceness, loud voice.
Retinue Member: Standard Bearer, Gertad Brownfoot. Old fellow who faithfully follows Sir Keardwall on his travels on a small pony, bearing the noble Knight's coat-of-arms for all to see. Always glad to recite a few of his Lord's deeds for any audience, he speaks sweeter still when his tongue is greased with alcohol.
Chivalry: 1.
Name: Sir Meynard the Sure
Bio: Meynard is not sure because he always knows, He is the other kind of sure. If he decides on a task, he will keep on trying until he succeeds, or there is incontrovertible proof that it is no longer possible. He Wields his great Warhammer "Drakhen" in the crucible of battle.
Retinue Member: Maddy, the Falcon Handler; Long time companion of Meynard, Maddy has been entrusted with the knights Falcon, who he takes everywhere
Chivalry: 1.
Drinking Challenges Won: 0/1.
Name: Sir Feyman the Judging, Slayer of the Black Knight
Bio: Sir Feyman gladly accepts his role in any quests, but is always suspicious of the motives of his fellow questers. He likes to play music, but doesn't have the opportunity very often. He fights with swords, but doesn't get too attached to his equipment.
Retinue Member: Maine the shy Minstrel. He usually follows Feyman around, blindly agreeing with him, even though he taught Feyman many things, including how to play music.
Chivalry: 3.
Duels Won: 1/1.
Arms: 1/2.
Name: Sir Conchobar the Gruesome
Bio: The stuff of legends, Conchobar is feared throughout the world. Not because of his deeds mind you, but because of his legendary ugliness. He is said to be so ugly that the heads of lesser men have shattered in his presence. It is also notable that his favored weapon is a man wearing spiked armor named Fiddles.
Traits: Unimaginably intimidating. Ridiculously ugly.
Retinue member: Fiddles the man club.
Chivalry: 1.
Author
Topic: Roll to Seek the Grail! (Read 50268 times)