In reply to Haildas the Wanderer (msg # 28):

"Ahhhh.. perhaps true in the future.  But who knows what the future brings." Diana said.
"There here and now is what matters.  Sure, when one is old and perhaps feeble the luster will have worn off, but as long as one has the ability to fight, and can do the job, gold and jewels are like flame to a moth." She said, with a smile.

"Tis true for many, it would seem. I myself seek riches more vast than any simple hoard of gold. There are things in this world of immeasurable value that neither sparkle nor shine...although in fairness, many of them do", he belts out a mighty laugh, clearly amused with himself terribly.

In reply to Haildas the Wanderer (msg # 30):

Really?" Diana says.  "And what kind of riches would those be?  Friends? Family?  If you can find those, they can be very nice to have at your back.  Especially in the mercenary business." She says.

Her arrows affiliation is clearly showing, as she's made no effort to hide it.

"Ha! Family! No, such things hold little interest to me. Now magic! AHA! Knowledge...now that is worth more than any amount of gold!"

In reply to Haildas the Wanderer (msg # 32):

"Aye, power and knowledge are nice, but when the proverbial shit hits the fan, they will not have your back when the odds are stacked against you." She said.

"In fact, I'd say that they are the reason the proverbial shit has hit the fan." She said with a chuckle.

"Nay, I'd rather have brothers and sisters in arms at my back.  Some gold in my pocket." She said with a smile.

Sir Luthien remains up with the royal family watching events. He's Knight enough to make note of the techniques being used, and points some of them out if he thinks His Majesty might've missed.

  The  Two warriors  or the Iron Blades , spread wide, the Archers  stood  behind the  footsoldier as they talked.

  With a yell,  both Blades charged  forward The Archer   said something  and  truned to the Left , and Fired, the  Arrow  sunk deep into the   Blade's  wooden shield, but he  kept  coming. The two footsoldiers   clashed together in a  flurry of   sword  swings, when  suddenly the archer  s   , who was  reloading   ran backwards and Pivoted towards the  two, and Fired.. the Arrow, Fired low , hit the  Blade in the  Him and he went  down, causing proctors  to run forward blowing whistles.
  The  Gilded Helm foot soldier  was already  pivoting to cut off the attack from their  foe.

 It  would be a race...would the  archer get his  next arrow  nocked?..would the Helm meet the Blade? or would the Blade reach the Archer!

.................

 Up in the Box, some   servants  brought slips of parchment  for the Emperor to read.

The sound of whistles prompted Myranda to glance back at the spectacle, it looked like the event was near its end. Hopefully the next contest would be a little more eventful.

Rolf had little use for arena games.  They were unheard of in the lands of his youth and the seemed of little point.  Gambling upon the outcomes seems to be of even less point.  The bow work does draw Rolf's professional eye however.

Dueling to first blood and target practice seems tame enough, duels to the death when both are known to be guilty.  Execute both and have done would meet with Rolf's approval.  It would be mildly interesting to see how well the priest would acquit himself against the former soldier.

Slipping across Myranda perched near the Princess, leaning closer she quietly asked how her evening was with the Roller; giving the recent arrow a concerned smile. Despite the Princesses Position she had accepted the pin and was now a Crimson as such was as much apart of the Company as the longest serving member, and was to be afforded Myranda's protection and council, least the Princess fall pray to the web of diplomatic Entreaties and deceits.
This message was last edited by the player at 17:28, Mon 20 June 2016.

 The Blade an Helm Met  in a clash of Shields the  Archer  Could  not fire, But the Proctors Blew the whistle...The  Blade  and  received a bloody  Lip from the Helm's shield, Thus..counted as a 'wound'.

  The three were  lead Over to the Emperor's   Box. The  Took off their helms as he addressed them.

  By way of the Contest ... The  Golden Helm has  won rights to the Contract.  However.... The display put on  by both groups, have won some bids, from other merchant groups....

  He hands the papers  to  the SGT near him who hands  them to the proctors, who, in turn  sorts them out to each group.

 ..you put on a  fine show....but i trust, in the future. you will settle  these  thinks, as though you were Business folk?

 the  Groups  Bowed  and  went off to exit the arena.

 BRING ON THE NEXT GROUP!

Kr'wyn thought there would be an archer contest now, which interested him as a bowmanhimself, so he gives the arena his full attention now. About the last contest, he was impressed by the actions of the archer in that battle as well.

Of course, Sir Luthien was already keeping an eye on things in the royal area, but he salutes at Myranda all the same. There were things his allies could see that even he'd miss.

Brie giggles as the Golden Hells won.  She leaned forward and patted on Kree's shoulder. I knew they would win, she sat back a bit more relaxed but confident.

   The lead  Proctor stood   near the  large  pool in the middle,  two  trooper s  held  two , overly  large horns  to help his Voice  carry.

 People of Ironmound, and  Visitors. The archer contest, will be of the Combat Shuttle.... Each Archer  has  prepared two  arrows  for each target, Proctors  Have  set them in the sand, points down... The archers  Must fire  Both arrows at the Target and  run to the  next... There is a Proctor who will turn an sandglass when the archer nocks  his first arrow... when the archer   finishes  his last target, he must sprint to the Glass he started at, to get his time.......

 it would be noted that the archers  wore the colors Orange, Red, Blue and green.. the arrows they prepared were the same color as their  tunics.

 they stood  50 yards  from the targets... 2  rings  with a 'head sized' red  dot in
the Middle...they would receive points according to where they hit. Those points  would be counted as seconds and subtracted  from their  times..to get the winner.

 Only  a few of the people knew the archers, as they were from various  Companies...
This message was last edited by the GM at 13:16, Wed 22 June 2016.

In reply to the games (msg # 43):

Diana was deeply disappointed in how the blade vs helm contested ended.  A bloody lip? Seriously?  She lent her voice to the boos from some of the crowd.

For the archer contest, she wagered on Red and Blue, but only 5 gold on both.

Lucy could only shake her head.  What a disappointing ending to the helm vs blade contest.

"Do such contests always end with such a wimmper?" She asked the person next to her.
"That was a sorry way to end such a contest.  A blood lip."  She said, spitting on the ground.

For the archer contest, she thought about not wagering, but at the last minute wagered 5 on orange, 10 on Blue, 10 on Red and 5 on Green.  She could only hope that this contest ended better then the last one.

Kr'wyn waits till he sees the archers before he decides about betting on the outcome of this contest.

During the blades competition, Rolf had been more focused on watching the watchers than he had on the contest.  Contests didn't bother him, people watching and wagering on the outcome didn't bother him, but this aggrandizement of it was somehow distasteful  The ending of the contest, with a bloody lip, seems a poor test of the combatant's skills.  By rights, they should continue.

Rolf is a bit more interested in the archery contest though, considering it something more of a contest of skill and his attentions are more fully on the scene below.  However, he still doesn't feel any desire to bet on the outcome.

Myranda glances across at the Roller then leans forward You and I should have a chant about that fellow she quietly suggests to the Princess

  The eevent  starts  Each archer  fires his   first arrow. all hit the target, then dip down to pick up the  second arrow  of their color  and Fire  it,The green archer doesn't even watch  where/if his second arrow hits, heis sprinting through the sand ( counter clockwise) to the   next postion, he   plucks the first arrow from the sand , takes a breath before loosing it.

  The Red archer watched with pride  as his second  arrow hit, then  begins to run to the next spot...

 the  Blue  archer did about the same,..the ornage archer  missed  with his first shot...took a bit long for his second( bullseye ), then  trotted towards the next spot.

 The Princess looks back for a second, then retruns her  attention to the  event as she says,I think.... I am good, on that  part, Good lady.... she smiles a bit  as she watches the green archer  sprinting.

 Nelk says,Captain?..how  do you think you would fare in such a contest?

 kree chuckles,Your  highness?.... We have to shoot  and move, as a manner of staying alive?...  these fellows  may be good..or maybe here to win some coin...but they could not complete, with the youngest of  my Arrows.

In reply to games (msg # 49):

Myranda gave the Princess an indulgent smile.You have no objection to his obvious self seeking association.
This message was last edited by the player at 01:14, Wed 29 June 2016.

I fear, Madame?  You are speaking ill of one of your own Comrades? her eyes  shift to Kree who his watching the archers with a bit of distain.

 what would your Captain , think of this?

In reply to Princess (msg # 51):

Myranda curtsies to The Emperor.My comment could be viewed as such. However it can also be instruction from one Crimson to another.
This message was last edited by the player at 01:15, Wed 29 June 2016.

Luthien, it must be noted, is CLOSE ENOUGH TO HEAR THIS. So not only is she badmouthing him, she's essentially doing so to his face.

Despite this, Luthien declines to pay attention to Myranda. Taking the high road.