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.
Unfortunately for Leighton, Aleera knows that the squirrel is in the audience and she isn't so distracted when she insults Lyas this time around. She drapes an arm around the tabby in return, holding him against her side gently, and she shoots the rodent a toothy, almost malicious grin, "If'n you really want my luv to lose, why don't you come down here 'n fight him yourself? Er are you too scared of him?" That challenge is even accompanied by her raising up her wooden sword and pointing it right at the poor woman....
However... she certainly doesn't expect Leighton to actually accept that challenge, and so she simply turns her attention back to the actual fight at hand instead. She glances between the two combatants, an amused grin on her face. She can't imagine that this fight will last long, judging by how gracefully the jaguar moves -- and especially when that's compared to the rat's awkwardness.
There's a hint of excitement on the rat's face as he charges Natska and manages to 'hit'... At least as far as he realizes. His eyes appear to be closed during the attack, only snapping open when Natska winces, before hitting him in the back and sending him tumbling forward, only barely catching himself.
And already, he's charging again, convinced that his aggression will win the day, despite it leaving his entire body open to a counterattack.
The crowd, meanwhile, is laughing at the antics...
Cassidy rubs at her cheek, then leans back. It was nice to not be in the area of focus this time. A heavy exhale, an adjusting of her sun hat and she folds her hands in her lap to watch. "At least he's got his heart in it."
Leighton blinks a little as Aleera adresses her, but soon grins. "Need your girlfriend to protect you now?" She giggles, as if getting to enjoy the back and forth a little. "Well, how about you give him a beating from me? Does that work for you?" The squirrel had no intention in getting mixed up with the fighting.
Lyas gives a wolfish grin at Aleera's feisty defence of him. "She should've been scared the other night," he says to Aleera. "I did /warn/ her I was goin' to take all her stuff." The two rogues are absolutely merciless! Not to mention lacking in good taste, mocking an impoverished Squirrel so! Though - seems she's holding her own in the verbal battle. "I don't need it, but I certainly enjoy it!" He calls back to Leighton. "So where's /your/ sweetheart? Don't tell me the smell drove all your suitors off!"
Still - Leighton doesn't provide nearly enough amusement to keep Lyas's eyes off the fight. "That's right! Swing harder!" he cheers the rat. "I'm sure it'll work this time."
Natska keeps her smile in place, although her ears flatten as she hears the crowd laughing; that doesn't sit well with her. She meets her opponent's charge with a lunging thrust followed by another jab.
And the poor rat goes down onto his butt, looking around him for a moment, before, with some effort, bringing himself back to his feet.
"Ouch! That's gotta hurt, folk!"
And then, another charge, this time with a sideways swipe following it... Poor guy looks exhausted already, but at the same time, there's a huge smile plastered on his face... Doesn't seem he minds the laughter all that much.
Unfortunately for Lyas, this time around Lieighton's words left even Aleera grinning -- and this smile is a lot less scary, too! Still, the insults that the tabby tosses the squirrel's way are what finally manages to make the siamese giggle a bit, herself. It seems that she likewise enjoys the little back-and-forth they have. "He's got a point there, squirrel! You've gotta smell pretty foul to drive every suitor away -- after all, he somehow managed to get me, 'n I'm sure you already know how bad he smells," she teases, but... that teasing is still followed by her giving the other feline a kiss between the ears, "'N I'm gonna give him a beating in the ring, but it ain't gonna be from you!"
Speaking of giving people beatings in the ring.... Like many of the other people in the stands, watching the poor rat get knocked around simply makes the feline woman chuckle and shake her head, simply commenting, "He's got spirit. I'll give 'im that."
Natska braces, shield coming up to meet the blow and deflect it; she grunts a little as she shoves the blow out of the way, then relaxes as she notices he's enjoying himself. Her grin turns more genuine again, and she swings her own blade in horizontally towards his side.
Leighton shirks a little at the insult coming her way, as if remembering something else, but soon straightens up again. "No, we didn't spend enough time together for your stink to rub off on me!" She smirks to herself. "And lucky you, found a girl cat that can't shoot OR smell, quite a find!" The squirrel leans back, giggling to herself.
The wasp remains silent, watching curiously. At the very least, he could offer some level of convalescence post-combat. Though they likely have that covered. Either way, gotta enjoy the show. Somewhat.
"At least /I/ don't smell like the docks," Lyas murmurs to Aleera, ears perked. "All that seawater's bad for you, Firework, I swear." He meets Aleera's assertation that she'll beat him in the ring with a challenging look. It's... mainly playful, but there's a flicker of a more competitive spirit there... hopefully neither of them are going to get hurt, if they have a bout...
Leighton's insult of Aleera's shooting has the Cat snickering - but he at least has the foresight to take a few smart steps back from Aleera as he does so. "I think I've found a friend," he says happily to himself, watching the soon-to-be-active volcano that is Aleera.
And the rat goes down, falling to the side with a yelp, and dropping onto the ground, without sword or shield. Still, there's a huge grin on his face, even as he throws his hands in the air in that classic "I surrender" pose, and he breathes heavily.
"Seems we have our first winner of the round, folks. Give a round of applause to her, and a cheer for her opponent, who fought valliantly!" goes the announcer, He's clearly not the most physically fit, but at the same time, he's clearly excited about the thought of being able to tell all his friends about how he went head-to-head with a real freesword.
Soon enough, though, he's back on his feet, hopping excitedly from one to the other as both he and Natska are ushered off the field... And then, the next match is announced. Lyas versus a young sparrow-girl, holding her weapon and shield quite confidently... And competently, for that matter.
