Sightles

When the Flames Die

Thomas laughed at Gareth's response, as he slipped the padded leather tunic on, "It's less about sword skill, and more about you're quality of character." Thomas replied, as he pulled the padded tunic tight over his chest, "Thomas smiled at Gareth's comment, as he took off the chainmail shirt that sat on the decoration stand, now, slipping it on, "It's not exactly a good way to treat your body." Thomas replied, as he thought back on all the injuries he had had. He had broken arms, torn muscles, and even a broken back one time. Not fun injuries, but he made sure to always get back into tournaments once he had healed up. As Thomas began to take the armor pieces off the stand, and set them on the table as to put them on, he looked over at Gareth, "If you ever want to become skill with a sword, I'd be more than happy to teach you." Thomas said, with a smile, as he started to don his armor.

When the Flames Die

Thomas smiled at Gareth's answer, as he leaned casually against the table that his blade sat on, "I think I could help you find one, especially if you're interested in your own knighthood." Thomas replied, with a small smile. While Thomas had only served with the Order for 9 years, he still carried quite a bit of weight in the court. Having been a prince from a faraway land made his word worth hearing, "I mean if you're interested in such a thing." Thomas added, chuckling at the thought. If you had told him 10 years ago he'd be serving some foreign king, swearing his life to his, he would of been in absolute disbelief, but this is where he found himself in life. Thomas sighed after a moment, and stared down at the ground, before staring back up, "Well, guess it's time to start getting ready." Thomas said, with a slight huff, as he removed his black leather doublet. When he removed his jacket, he revealed his exposed torso, covered in a history of scars, bruises, and cuts. Some looked old, while some looked newer. Thomas started removing the armor from the decoration stand, starting with the padded leather tunic that would go on under his plate mail. Before putting the leather tunic on, he stared at the padded leather that remained in his hand, before turning to look at Gareth, "I've been competing in tournaments since I was 16, and I never stop getting excited about it." He said, as he allowed himself a small smile.

Clerk jotted down Tursgud information, before looking back up and giving Tursgurd a swift nod, "Very well, Sir Tursgud, the melee will be taking place shortly after the joust. You'll learn who your first opponent is then." The clerk explained as he turned his attention back to making notes about the tournament.

When the Flames Die

As Tursgurd approached the clerk, he stopped taking notes on his piece of parchment. Before responding, the clerk cleared his throat, "Very well. Want events are you going to be taking part in? Jousting? Melee? Archery?" The clerk asked, quill poised to write down Tursgurd information, "I'm also going to need your full name." He added, as he still awaited the warrior's answer.

Thomas laid his snow white cape aside, upon a chair, and begun unhooking his armor straps, taking off his armor piece by piece, and simply setting them aside. Eventually, Thomas was reduced down to his long-sleeved black leather doublet, and his black shoes. Without his armor, Thomas cut a lot stronger figure, looking as if he was actually sculpted from marble, "If there's one thing Keilaudrin is good at, it's unnecessary expenses." Thomas said, with a slight smirk, as he stretched out his arms, and legs, before walking over to the fruit bowl and retrieving an apple. It felt good to be out of armor once in a while, and it definitely was easier to move around. Thomas was taught to fight without armor, and fighting with it on was more of a hindrance than help. Thomas undid his belt, removing himself from his sword that still hung at his side. Thomas pulled the sword from it's sheath, quietly, revealing it's milky blade, and intricate hilt. After a moment of admiration, he laid the blade on the table next to him, and turned back to Gareth, "Do you have a profession, Gareth?" Thomas asked, interested in what kind of life his young friend led.

When the Flames Die

Thomas smiled, as he turned on his heel, and began his way to where his tent would be, "Have you ever competed with a bow before?" Thomas asked, as the two walked. Thomas was sure the young man was more than skillful with the bow, but he wondered if it had ever been used in competition before. Just like in the melee, tournament dueling, and real fighting, were two completely different things, and required the participants to adapt. Eventually, Thomas led them to his tent. Being the champion of the Order of the Thistle, he was allotted a fair amount of room. As Thomas closed the flaps behind them, he gazed about the room. In the center of the room was the armor he was to wear for the duration of the tournament, propped by a decoration stand, heavy plate armor as dark as smoke, and as shiny as a gem. In the middle of the chest was emblazoned a pure white thistle flower. The helmet was the typical armnet, decorated with a white plum coming out of the top. The room also held various sundries, such as fruit, a full sized mirror, breastplate stretchers, another decoration stand for Thomas to lay his normal armor, and a thistle sitting in a small vase at the back of the room, on top a stand. "Seems like I got the special treatment." Thomas said, with a slight smirk, as he unhooked his cape. The tournament was to start soon, and he would have to change into the armor provided to him.

When the Flames Die

Thomas chuckled for a moment before responding to Gareth, "Yes, I do suppose it's an invitation. It'd be my honor to have another like me there." Thomas said, looking at Gareth with a smirk, glad he would be able to spend the midnight feast conversing with a member of his own race, and not the typical dry-humored politicians, or the humorless Order knights. Thomas turned his attention to the clerks, who looked at Thomas waiting for him to speak up, "My friend here would like to enter the archery section of the tournament. Gareth Harker." Thomas spoke up, taking charge of the exchange. One clerk pulled out a sheaf of parchment, and begun to write down Gareth's name, along with what section of the tournament he'd be participating in, "Okay, when the archery section of the tournament starts, you'll be expected to be here." The clerk said, with a slight smile, as he went back to conversing with his partner. Thomas turned to Gareth, with a soft smile on his face, "There you go. You're now in the King's Tournament." Thomas said, holding his smile, "I have to begin preparations at my tent, for the jousting section of the tournament, if you'd like to come with me." Thomas invited. His squires had already taken the initiative helping prep Thomas for the joust, but he still had some small details to take care of before competing.

When the Flames Die

"I appreciate your support, Gareth." Thomas said with a soft smile, as the two began to pass by the large tents, heading to the archery field. Thomas was eager to have the tournament begin as soon as possible. He always got slight jitters before a tournament. Not from being nervous, but from excitement. Thomas did a good job of hiding his excitement, as he wished to not be viewed as a child participating in their first tournament. "I hope you'll be attending the midnight feast, after today's tournament. Normally, they might not let those of more common birth come to the midnight feast, but I can make sure you gain attendance." Thomas said, as he spotted the archery field, along with a couple of clerks conversing with one another.

When the Flames Die

Thomas smiled as Gareth revealed he was going to be entering the archery section of the tournament, "Here, I'll show you the way to a clerk." Thomas said, holding his smile as he around, and started back to the fairgrounds, "You'll easily win the archery tournament. Not many people in Keilaudrin practice archery shooting in tournaments, plus you look like you'd be a good shot." Thomas spoke, adjusting his sword on his side. He had tried his hand at archery a few times, but never seemed to get a hold of the art. He was far better at swordplay than anything, "I'm in the tournament myself. I'm applied for jousting and the melee, though." Thomas added, as the pair walked towards the cabal of tents.

When the Flames Die

As Thomas made his way through the army of tents that decorated the fairgrounds, before making it to the grassy courtyard of the Palace. As he did so, he saw Gareth exiting the Palace, looking as if he was making his way to the fairgrounds. "Gareth!" Thomas called out, hoping to get the man to look up and notice Thomas, "Done with the feast, I assume?" Thomas asked, with a soft smile. He was glad to see that his friend had made the decision to come back to the Palace for the celebrations. Seeing the half-elf made Thomas feel at ease, something he hadn't felt since his younger days at Alinor, when he was surrounded by those like him. Here in Keilaudrin, he felt like too much of an outcast to truly feel at ease. Even though Gareth wasn't from Alinor, it still reminded Thomas of his old home.

When the Flames Die

The clerk wrote down the information he had been given, and looked up at Jezin, smiled and nodded, before walking away, and jotting down more notes. "The bracket for the melee should be up not too long from now." Thomas said, as he turned his attention to the dirt runway of the jousting area, "I'll be back in a little bit, Jezin. I need to find a friend of mine I made yesterday." Thomas said, as he bowed his head slightly to Jezin, excusing himself from the conversation, "See you in the tournament!" Thomas called out, as he walked away. Thomas walked back in the direction of the feast, hoping to make contact with Gareth. Thomas was interested in if Gareth was planning on participating in the tournament, and wondered what kind of skill the young man could possess.

When the Flames Die

"As do I, Jezin." Thomas replied, with a somber tone on his voice, "I feel as though it's going to get a lot worse before it will get better, though." Thomas added, as he scanned his head left to right, once more, and finally spotted a clerk working the tournament. The clerk was currently writing on a piece of parchment, with a quill, no doubt writing down notes imperative to the tournament, "There's your ticket." Thomas said, pointing out the clerk, and making his way over to the man. The clerk spotted the pair before they had gotten too close, and immediately stopped writing. "Hello, Sir Thomas." The young clerk replied with a smile. The clerk warranted a look at Jezin, scanning him up and down, "I assume you'll be declaring for the tournament? Melee, jousting, or Archery?" The clerk asked, raising his writing hand in preparation for Jezin's answer.