New Years Joy Festival - The Melee - RPLOG
Participants
Date
12/1/482
Log
It's only a little walk to the next staging-area, really. And already, behind the beings, the next archery-contest seems to be beginning, further lending credence to the idea that those gold, silver and bronze arrows are little more than painted or plated, and otherwise worthless. They still make for a neat trophy, though.
At the melee-ring, the situation is similar, equipment-wise, with roughly sword-shaped pieces of wood, and wooden shields being provided to the contestants. Looks like these 'fights' are being held among groups of eight, with a simple elimination-structure.
Aleera is, of course, still a little sore about being beaten by Lyas in a contest of marksmanship... but bows really aren't her forte anyways. Or that's the excuse that she seems intent on using, at the very least. In any case, she made a promise to hop into the melee if the tabby participated in archery, and she fully intends to keep that promise! She's holding onto the other feline's hand, leading him over to the ring with her and snatching up one poor excuse for a wooden sword for each of them when they get there. "Creators, when was the last time I held a sword...," she murmurs while she passes him a makeshift blade, "Usually I just have a blunderbuss fer when people get close to me. 'N if that doesn't work, I can always smash 'em with the butt of my gun!"
Natska makes her way to the site of the melee tournament, stride smooth and sure as befits one of the Graceful folk. She greets her fellow competitors with a respectful nod, expescially those who she had just watched in the archery competition. "Let us have a fun time with this, friends and fellow Freeswords," she greets, then tests the weight of one of the wooden shields, and the heft and balance of a sword. "... I think this is better made than my first sword. Goodness."
Lyas has made sure to tease Aleera relentlessly about beating her in the archery - despite missing entirely with his final shot! Swinging her hand idly, the tabby's tail jinks eagerly as they head off towards the melee ring. Now, this is his true forte - poking people with sharp things! None of that bothersome aiming they were doing earlier. He's disappointed to see that their weaponry is made of wood, but, well. What did he expect? It's also not his preferred style of sword, leaning towards mid-range rather than light and whippy. Still - there's a good chance he'll get to fight Aleera here, so he takes his piece of bludgeoning wood from Aleera with a smile on his face.
"How d'you think they'll judge this one?" he asks. He's seen marks done by putting red chalk on practice blades, but there doesn't seem to be a chalk bucket nearby, not that he can see.
Cassidy wanders by on her way to the stands, giving Natska a pat on the shoulder. "Have fun," she says with a smile before continuing on to find a place to settle in and watch. Her participation had been finished, now she was content to simply watch the rest of the games and enjoying the atmosphere.
Leighton was still sitting in the stands, though had buttoned her satchel to save the remaining sweets for later, perhaps feeling a little queasy from the sheer amount. She had moved to a different place in the stands, trying to get a little distance between her and the angry bear that glared at her earlier. "So what if I get a little into this...isn't that the point of being here." The squirrel muses to herself. Surveying the contestants, she's a little disappointed to not find her favorite underdog...or ocelot amongst them.
Soon enough, the beings are called into the ring, one by one. "Right! Sixteen fighters, just look at 'em! And only one will be going home with the grand prize!" the announcer calls out with a big smile on his face, gesturing towards the ring. "You off in twos. No blows below the belt, no outside weapons. Fights continue until one of the combattants yields, or the referee declares a winner. "You and... You, first," he offers, gesturing towards Natska, and a rather frail-looking rat-boy.
"I think you'd know better 'en I would, darlin'," Aleera replies while she adjusts her grip on the wooden blade. She's used these before, of course, and even if her soul leaves her more practiced with ranged weapons than melee ones, it does still help. But... it nonetheless takes her a moment to actually remember exactly where she should position her hand. "Maybe we're just tryin' to disarm each other?" she muses, but... a moment later, a referee comes out to properly explain the rules to them and she simply shrugs, "Nevermind, 'en." She simply takes up a position at the ring's edge to watch the two combatants that are called in, once more tugging Lyas along with her.
Lyas raises an eyebrow at Cassidy as she passes. "Bowing out?" A little disappointing, but the less genuine competitors there are, the higher the chances he'll get to face his favourite pirate. He nods to Natska, acknowledging her joining them with a grin. "I plan to have fun, sure," he says, with a flick of his tail. "Mostly I'd like to win, though!"
A glance to the stands, and he's picked up Leighton's position again. Poor Squirrel - she should never have drawn the contrary cat's attention. He waves his wooden sword at her lazily. "Hey, pipsqueak! You wanna bet on the matches? Try not to lose too much today!" Smirking, he turns back to the ring, allowing Aleera to tug him with her. Looping an arm around her waist, he leans his other hand against the fence as Natska is called forward. That poor rat...
Of course, the wasp had been mostly silent, though, and does make his way to the melee ring. Something to watch out of curiosity, and hopes that someone he knows would show up. Angus was a good possibility, given his skill with a blade. Still, no one he knows is present, and he can usually remember people's faces and names. Either way, when all is said and done, perhaps someone can direct him to where people are. Though that does mean he would have to... talk to them. Something he was never good at.
Leighton sticks her tongue out at the feline adressing her. "Of course not, you'll be doing enough losing for the both of us today, I'm sure." She grins wryly. The squirrel looks around the audience, a bit more distracted now that she didn't outright have someone she rooted for. While not wanting to stare too much, she noted the various species and social classes that were represented. Rarely were they all gathered as such.
Natska raises a fist in salute to Cassidy when she sees where her wife settled in the stands. Then she turns back to the official to listen to the ring master, and gives them a bow as she steps into the arena. Her sword comes up to salute the rat, and she gives him an easy smile.
The rat looks... Nervous. At best. Practically shaking in his fancy shoes. Still, he offers a salute, and then, when the ringmaster signals the start of the fight, the shorter being charges, wooden sword practically dragging over his shoulder, as he tries to go for a single, big, and no doubt, ineffectual strike.
Natska slips to the side as the big charge comes in, her blade snapping up into place and poking out at the rat's side. She winces, then puts on her best encouraging smile as she settles into a ready stance after the attack.
