The High Games at The Marillion

[Padma]

An excellent performance, Shaitan! I missed that misstep of Cyc's and had him figured for the winner in my mind. But it was certainly a close thing!

I'll have a Riot beer, myself.

BTW, you have me listed for Circuit Race, when I should be in Alpha Dog.

 

[Cyc]

You're welcome, Lord Shaitan. I will humbly surrender the first event for the honor of good competition. I forfeit my chance at taking the triple crown here, but I shall trounce you in the other events. BTW, I'll take a hot tea, please.

And thank you, Padma for the kind words.

 

[Shaitan]

Care to make a wager on that, Prince Cyc? Whichever of us finishes with more wins in the horse events shall receive...perhaps...200g from the other? There are 3 events left and the bookies favor you for two of them. It's possible, though unlikely, you could best me.

 

[Shaitan]

Turnabout is fair play and Cyc certainly turned the tables on Shaitan in this contest, finishing close to a length ahead of the Vanir prince. gonzo crossed the line neck and neck to Shaitan and Octavian and naervod finished a length after. The traditional Vanir steeplechase course was augmented by short trenches for this competition and these claimed both disorganizer and gunning1, whose horses foundered after missing their jumps.

Blast and double blast. I was so hoping to take this event. Well, congratulations to you, Cyc, for a well run race. And to gonzo, who kept up with his old teacher!

 

[Cyc]

Unlikely?...unlikely?... I shall take your wager, Lord Shaitan, and your gold. You somehow managed to slip out from under the loss at the Gala, but I shall put you to the test here. In front of the One and everybody.

 

[Padma]

Ha! Another Riot Beer, please! I backed the winner on that one!

(P.S. Thanks for updating the list, Shaitan. )

 

[Shaitan]

The Gala? My team was so well practiced it was almost frightening. We'll have you for lunch if that ever gets under way...

 

[Shaitan]

Strider was the great favorite for the flat out circuit race and he made the oddsmakers happy with a full length and a half lead at the win. Cyc finished a nose ahead of Shaitan and gunning1 thundered in a bare head behind. Octavian barely beat naervod for the 5th spot and disorganizer and gunning1 finished the field.

Now that's a contest to get the blood pumping! Quite a field of the Marillion Stables finest, eh? It's hard to be upset at a loss when it's Fanatika's finest jockey atop Sands Runner that beats you.

Another Riot here as I prepare for the Low Joust. I'll have to take that cleanly to put Cyc in place.

 

[Shaitan]

The first ever alpha dog challenge was a definite treat and a nice, lighthearted change to the fierce competitive pace of the horse races. The Marillion kennels showed exceptionally well with Shaitan taking the win and gunning1 finishing third. Plexus took the second place and Padma brought up the rear.

That was a lot of fun. These dogs are quite impressive. I must thank our Master of Hounds. I hope there will be more contestants for these contests in the future, it's quite departure from sword swinging.

I shall toss some beef innards to the valiant canines who worked so hard in this event.

 

[Padma]

Ah, well. I knew I didn't have the best chance, but I thought I would do better. Well done, Shaitan.

 

[Shaitan]

Thankyou, sir, but I must give credit where it is due. My thanks go to gunning1, Master of the Marillion Kennels and the fine hounds he has trained.

 

[Shaitan]

Normally the Low Joust precedes the High Joust but the master of ceremonies swapped them to delay the final confrontation between Shaitan and Cyc.

The first round at the lists had three decisive victories with disorganizer easily unseating gonzo, Grandmaster beating gunning1 and jdd2007 forcing a yeild from his liege lord Shaitan. disorganizer was granted a bye in the second round due to his superior performance in the first. Grandmaster and jdd2007 had 4 spectacular runs, each losing two lances until Grandmaster finally unhorsed jdd2007 for the victory. After a suitable resting period, disorganizer and Grandmaster squared off. The Knight of Lancre and the Knight of Aiger had long been allies and compatriots but that paled compared to their well known rivalry on the field. Their match lasted an unbelievable 8 rounds, disorganizer determined to win his last joust and Grandmaster equally determined to keep his victorious streak alive. In the end it was the enlightened disorganizer who triumphed, to thunderous applause from the crowd.

My aching head. Don't worry, jdd2007. I won't make a point of remembering this humiliation for all time, especially when your lands are invaded.

A spectacular finish of a marvelous knighthood career for disorganizer. Well done!

 

[Shaitan]

We are lacking a decent competition in most of the hunting competitions. The Marillion will open its Aviary, Kennels and Stables to anybody who wishes to join a hunting competition but lacks the animals to do so.

 

[Shaitan]

The low joust was the final battle between the Horselords. The previous contests had resulted in Shaitan winning Performance Horse and Cyc winning Steeplechase with neither taking the circuit race. The low joust would be the tie breaker and betting was exceptionally heavy. Cyc won a convincing victory on the strength of his spear casts and his speed down the lists. gunning1 turned in an astonishingly good performance, rivaling the two favorites and nearly taking the second spot from Shaitan. gonzo had several misses on the list and finished last in the competition.

Curses! Foiled again! Well, Cyc has bested me fair and square and will receive a tidy purse as a result of our bet to go along with the one for winning the event. Congratulations, sir. It was a pleasure competing against you.

I must also say how pleased I am with the performances of the Knights of Vanir today. My knights have placed in 5 of the 6 competitions. Bravo!

 

[Shaitan]

The purses for today's contests are 200g for each 1st place, 100g for each 2nd place and 50g for each 3rd place. This makes the purse winnings:

Cyc		600
disorganizer	200
gonzo_for_civ	 50
Grandmaster	100
gunning1	100
jdd2007		100
Plexus		100
Shaitan		650
Strider		200

So at least I beat Cyc in total winnings.

Unless you add in the extra 200g from our side bet...

 

[Cyc]

Thank you, Shaitan. The thrill of Victory feels good. I owe it all to Lit, my hunter. She is the true Champion. Congratulations to all the competitors today. You have raised the bar today for other nations in regards to Sportsmanship and Talent. Well done.

 

[Grandmaster]

Well fought, Lord Dis. It would seem your enlightenment has increased your skill on the plain of battle. I take my hat off to you. Perhaps it was a good end to a long rivalry, eh, friend? Now I must find another House to defeat in the High Joust...

 

[Padma]

An excellent day of competition, my friends! I raise my glass to you all!

You are looking well, Lord disorganizer. It is good to see that the assassin's bolt did no permanent damage.

 

[jdd2007]

well that was a great joust, grandmaster, but i shall defeat you next time.

performing was better than i thought it would be. it was the greatest feeling having all those eyes on me...

 

[gunning1]

Wow, I really sucked in most of the horse races... At least I got 2 third places...