Sir Jean sneers at his critics. "The shirt is of surpassing quality as I said. Purchased in Byzantium and never worn. As for the second it is no prize at all but a punishment. Second place is but foremost amongst losers and deserves no reward."

To Jaleh he says, "We will throw from this line." And he draws a black line on the floor with the coal.

"Wait a moment and perhaps a few of these other stalwarts may join our sport."
He casts a challenging glance around the room.

"Any other rules?" asks Jaleh innocently.

"Hmm...no magic, no interfering with others. Treat with your crew as you would have them treat you."

"Of course, ladies first, as you wish," says Conn to Jaleh with a smile and a bow, as she steps forth from her seat. He would have added, and I shall stand aside when one comes along!, but he felt he did not know her well enough as yet, and could not judge whether she would take the joke as well as Balthazar had the one directed his way, a joke over which he had been much more confident in it's reception.

Loukas joins Jaleh and Conn to take part in the contest, "Your rules are good, Sir Jean. I join this good men in line to await my turn after fair, Jaleh."
This message was last edited by the player at 03:21, Sun 15 Nov 2009.

Rubbing soar ribs A'kos laughs and calls from the table, "I've a gold on the Lady's skills."

Stepping to the line Jaleh draws two narrow throwing daggers from where they were hidden near the small of her back.  She catches A'kos and Conn of Skye admiring her backside and rolls her eyes, then turns and focuses her attention on the target.

With 2 quick flicks of her wrist she sends the blades speeding toward the barrel one after another.

23:59, Today: Jaleh rolled 22 using 1d20+2.
23:59, Today: Jaleh rolled 3 using 1d20+2. Target contest.

Two more different outcomes she could not have imagined.  The first knife sails end over end high above the barrel, sticking in the wall at the far end of the hall.  Against a live foe the second would've been a deadly toss as it speeds end over end and sticks directly in the center of the 'X'.

"Tosses as extreme as my moods," she says, looking at her handiwork.  "I'll be hard pressed to win this contest based upon two throws, but the one is as good as you'll get." 

Turning, she smiles at the Frank and makes her way to the table with A'kos.

"It's your fault," she says primly, reaching for her wine, but she fails to elaborate.

Great skill, or luck? Perhaps a bit of both. Conn nodded at the woman's efforts as she walked back to her seat, then took out his own hand axe and sized up the distance to the target. After but a moment's consideration, he drew back his arm and hurled his axe at the barrel. Unfortunately, he had misjudged his effort, and the handle of the axe bounced off the target, sending it bouncing half the distance back to him. Conn shook his head in disgust.

11:44, Today: Conn of Skye rolled 7 using 1d20+1. Target contest.

His eyes on the Scotsman's efforts the Falcon grunts acknowledgment to the mercurial woman.

"I've come to learn, little woman, that it's always wiser to accept blame from a woman than to deny it," he replies as Conn's axe skitters across the floor.  "What am I to blame for this time?"

Jean picks up Conn's axe and hands it back to him.

"Perhaps your second throw will be better."

Radvila smiles as he watches the younger crew members playing at their contest. He however does not take part, instead he pulls up a chair and goes about making up for lost time with his old shipmate Miroslav, and getting pleasantly drunk in the process.

When there is a space for him to squeeze his great bulk through, Ulfr toes the line and draws his own belt axe for two throws.

Neither of the attempts even stick and the big man looks a little embarrassed as he retrieves his weapon.

"Ah well, I have never been much use with this sort of thing anyway."

13:07, Today: Ulfr rolled 5 using 1d20.
13:07, Today: Ulfr rolled 10 using 1d20. target.

"How is this being judged anyway? Just out of curiosity since Ulfr is definitely out of the running.

When it is Loukas's time he takes a dagger -- not the one he gained from the Persian's effects, which is sheathed on his arm, but the one sheathed on his belt, and steps up to the line.

The first throw hits the target, but on its outside-most edge, nearly missing the target completely. He has to do better than this! His second throw flies goes even wider of the target. Marching to where the dagger falls he re-sheaths it, "Damn!", he mutters to himself, and rejoins the table trying to appear unaffected by his failure.

Barmak sits back and continues to sip his wine in a most moderate fashion, eyeing up the contestants thoughtfully and trying to size up who is genuinely good at what, once all the big talk is subtracted.

Miroslav tells the owner of the tavern to turn away all other applicants for crew and leans back in his chair and talks to Radvila about past glories and those yet to come.

He keep sa close eye on the competition started by the Frankish knight. He wags a sausage-like finger at Loukas when the lad fails at his attempts to win the shirt.

Sitting Loukas takes up his cup again and notes Miroslav's teasing finger-wave. Looking somewhat shamed he grins and shrugs his shoulders after takeing a drink, "Yes, I am fortunate that the punishment for losing is not losing one's shirt, while the winner gains Sir Jean's new one!"
This message was last edited by the player at 20:15, Sun 15 Nov 2009.

Balthazar gets up good-naturedly to take this throws.  "Axe, dagger, makes no difference, I suck at both."

15:02, Today: Balthazar the Hedonite rolled 12 using 1d20. target contest, 2nd throw.
15:02, Today: Balthazar the Hedonite rolled 9 using 1d20. target contest.

Each of those is -5 for weapon proficiency penalty and +2 for dex, so a 9 and a 6.  Probably breaks a nearby window or something.

"We're going to attack some town," replies the Falcon with a shrug.  "Any other details you'll have to get from Miroslav, as he was the one to talk to Sviatoslav yesterday."

Nodding in thanks to the Frankish knight as he hands him back his axe, Conn stands aside to let the others take their turn. When they prove to be even worse, the man of Skye finds himself smiling ~ perhaps the mead and wine has affected them more than they realise. Still, he waits his turn and when the time comes, he hurls his axe again - and this time strikes the target, just a little off-centre.

22:27, Today: Conn of Skye rolled 14 using 1d20+1.

"A little practice, Conn of Skye, and you might actually be dangerous to someone other than yourself," says Jaleh from her seat.

To the knight she says, "Alright, Sir Frank-man, your turn."

Once the others have had their chance Jean steps to the line and hurls his two axes.

The first strikes dead center eclipsing the cut made by Jaleh's dagger while the second glances off the handle of the first and strikes just inside the edge of the barrelhead.

"It appears we have both struck center Jaleh. We shall throw a single blade to break the tie. You may, of course, throw first."


17:36, Today: Sir Jean D'Arzillieres rolled 10 using 1d20+3. AC 8 edge hit
17:35, Today: Sir Jean D'Arzillieres rolled 21 using 1d20+3. AC 0 center hit
Target Contest.

Jaleh stands and steps to the line.  Looking at the knight she murmurs, "I'd almost rather lose..."

Grinning confidently, she lifts her arm and flicks her wrist and scores a nearly direct hit in the center of the 'X'.

"If you beat that, Sir Jean, I will train you willingly.  Your throw."

Satisfied, she steps away from the line, though she remains standing to watch the final throw.

19:25, Today: Jaleh rolled 21 using 1d20+2. Barrels.
This message was last edited by the player at 00:29, Mon 16 Nov 2009.

Jean steps forward and throws with authority. His axe hammers into the center of the black "X" knocking Jaleh's dagger to the floor.

"It appears we shall have to throw again."

21:31, Today: Sir Jean D'Arzillieres rolled 21 using 1d20+3. Tie Breaker.

"A toast to your skill, Sir Knight," says Jaleh.  "And for such a fine throw, I'll defer to you and throw second this round."

Jean throws again and the axe sticks but only a few inches from the edge of the barrelhead.


07:00, Today: Sir Jean D'Arzillieres rolled 10 using 1d20+3. Target Contest.