The Tower of Joy

[Poach]

RP for Northman Lords

Bayard arrived at the lonely tower with a small party of close and trusted men, all of whom had fought beside him in the Rebellion. According to the information provided by Robert, this is where Lyanna was being held captive: this small tower deep in the mountains, not a village, castle or road in sight.

The party advanced up the small dirt path towards it, swords drawn, cautiously surveying as they advanced. It seemed only a small guard awaited at the tower's base: several Kingsguard.

[Jokern]

In the shade of the lonely tower stood three men, clad in the white cloaks and armor of the Kingsguard. Ser Gerold Hightower, the White Bull and Lord Commander of the Kingsguard, stood in the middle, a giant of a man. To his left was Ser Oswell Whent on his knees, with the black bat of his house upon his helmet, sharpening his sword with a whetstone. To the right the Northmen saw Ser Arthur Dayne, the Sword of the Morning, with Dawn hung across his back, his long silver hair flowing in the wind. It was as if the men had expected Bayard Stark's arrival.

[Poach]

"The Mad King is dead. Rhaegar, Elia, her children, dead. Rhaelle and her children, dead." said Bayard as he dismounted and walked towards the three men, "Your cause has passed, noble Kingsguard. Give me back my sister."

[Pericles of Athens]

The Greatjon stood beside his lord, greatsword hung at his hip hand lightly placed on the hilt. His massive form all covered in furs seeming desperately out of place in the Dornish heat. You best listen to the boy, give us Lyanna and we won't have need to cut you lot down.

OOC I'll assume anyone Northmen who went south can take part..and it isn't an automatic death sentence.

[Honors Bastion]

"We swore an oath to Prince Rhaegar that we would not let anyone get their hands upon Lyana. His death nor that of the King does not relieve us of our oath and we will die to uphold it." said the White Bull while slowly drawing his sword. "If you want her then prepare to fight for her."

[Poach]

"Robert is to be King, now," said Bayard, drawing Ice in response, "As Kingsguard your loyalties must now lie with him, and he wishes Lyana back."

Bayard hoped a fight would not come of it. Though outnumbered, the Kingsguard were all master swordsmen, and it would not be without bloodshed upon the Northerners to defeat them...

[Jokern]

Ser Arthur Dayne drew Dawn as well, the pale sword shining like a candle in the sunlight.

"The Kingsguard are no traitors nor cowards, and above all no oathbreakers. Until we draw our last breath, we serve the realm and the royal family, unlike you."

[Pericles of Athens]

The Greatjon drew his blade. Let us put an end to this.

[Poach]

"So it shall be." said Bayard, readying his greatsword and advancing on the three men. Behind him came the Greatjon and a half dozen experienced knights of the North.

[ooc: What's the deal here? Is it an RP? Real duels?]

[Pontifex Maximus]

Rickard Karstark drew his sword, readying himself. "This is not noble, it is suicidal." He said to the men in white cloaks, knowing it would make no difference. A shame more blood would be uselessly spilled on behalf of the depraved and dead.

[Honors Bastion]

[OOC: RP duels are fine ending with the death of three Kingsguard here and maybe a few of your retainers. Your characters themsleves do not have to die unless you want them to.]

"So be it." said Ser Gerold Hightower before he charged at the Northerners. He aimed for Lord Stark himself as it was fitting for the Lord Commander to take on the enemy leader.

[Pericles of Athens]

The Greatjon roared his mighty roar and charged for Ser Arthur Dayne, Sword of the Morning. He would test the skills of this renowned knight, blade to blade.

OOC Perhaps the NPC Northerns should die, leaving only Rickard, Manderly, and Stark.

[Jokern]

"An end this shall be indeed. Yours."

Ser Arthur Dayne grabbed Dawn with both his hands, walking slowly towards Greatjon Manderly before charging at full speed. The immense man was as big as the White Bull, if not larger, and looked like a true warrior. A shame to end the life of otherwise good men, but this was the fate the gods had decreed for them. The thoughts of the Sword of the Morning went to Rhaegar, his dear friend. What had the last thoughts of the prince been when the Usurper slew him? Probably for Elia, the children... and the woman in the tower shadowing over them. Had it all been worth it, Your Grace? Arthur wondered. The thoughts soon ran away like rain as he came closer to his opponent.

[Pericles of Athens]

The Greatjon's blade was about as large as Dawn, but compared to the man's size the blade seemed almost small. It was a shame they needed to kill these men, these Kingsguard, they were honorable and true, too bad their oaths were neither. After a few strides the two warriors come together, their blades met and the steel sang. This was for Lyanna, for Desmond, for Kennet, for all the men who died in this war, this was for justice and vengeance in equal parts.

[Pontifex Maximus]

Karstark sized up Whent and challenged him. "I shall take no delight in killing you, ser." He said as he raised his steel for the initial assault. Ser Oswell may have been one of the least famous of those assembled, but he had spent the majority of his career training for moments like these. This would surely be a trial of his skill.

ooc: I will assume risk if there is a reward that can be won.

Rickard Karstark
Traits:
Battles +3
Survival +3
Charisma +3
Scouting +3
Duel HP+4

Equipment
Iron shield
Helm
Greaves
Chest-plate

[Poach]

Bayard braced himself as the Hightower came forwards, waiting until he closed in. He swung Ice in a conservative arc just as the Lord Commander entered attacking distance, following up with a short stab to force him onto the defensive. Ice was a large weapon, and anyone using a Greatsword could easily overbalance themselves if they committed to a full swing. As such, it should only be done when a killing blow was likely, else you were left open to attack.

The Hightower took a swift step backwards but was soon striking back, with a short leap forwards and a downward cut forcing Bayard to frantically sidestep and swing Ice once more at his attacker's side. Hightower easily parried, but the force behind a Greatsword jarred his arm, momentarily giving Bayard a moment to regain a solid footing and await the next attack.

[Honors Bastion]

Ser Gerold took a few steps backward after the last swipe from the greatsword, using the time to quickly catch his breath. Within seconds, the Lord Commander began to press forward again this time leading with his shield, hoping to send his opponent reeling backwards with a power bash before he could move in for the kill. By this moment, the White Bull had all accepted his coming death and through caution away. If he was to see the Stranger soon, he was intent on bringing a few men to see the feared member of the Seven with him.

Gerold's bash was enough to send Lord Stark backwards as he had hoped the fact that the Lord's retainers were quick to move to defend their lord prevented him from takign the kill. He quickly deflected a few stabs by some of the retainers before he replied with his own slashes and jabs, managing to take out one of the Northerners with a quick trust to his heart. Another man soon fell before the Whilte Bull was able to near Lord Stark again but by that time, the elderly Lord Commander's energy was decresing and his focus waning.

[Poach]

Two good knights dropped to the floor, forever lost. Bayard cursed his lack of foresight in seeing the retaliation: if he'd been more alert those men might not have had to cover for their Lord's foolish tactical choices.

Still, Hightower was distracted, still freeing his sword from Ser Raymund Cerwyn, brother to the current Lord Cerwyn. Bayard took his chance, rushing forwards and sending Ice in an upwards slash before Hightower had turned to face him. The blow went somewhat wide, missing the torso as Hightower quickly - far quicker than Bayard had thought possible - leant right to avoid it. Not far enough right, however, as Ice caught the man's shield arm, Bayard feeling the blow connect and shatter the man's wrist, sending the shield flying to the ground and eliciting a deep grunt of pain, but failing to fell the man.

Hightower staggered back, Stark recovered from the mighty swing. The advantage lay now with Bayard, but it cost two men to gain it, it must not be in vain.

With a roar of equal terror and rage, Bayard rushed forwards once more, the desire to ensure his fallen comrades died for something providing a much needed second wind. A quick stab was easily deflected by Hightower, but Bayard continued to commit with his momentum and soon brought the weighty pommel of Ice crashing into the man's nose, sending him stumbling back. Even through the pain, Bayard's follow-up blow was parried, albeit haphazardly, though Hightower had not yet regained his footing entirely...

[Honors Bastion]

The broken wrist had sapped Ser Gerold's energy even further and the follow up broken nose was the topper that sent Ser Gerold back. His strength was failing him and the pain becoming unbearable. With a last and desperate assault forward on an uneven footing, the White Bull put his remaining strength into one more slash, hoping to fell Lord or another one of his men, before he was fully overwhelmed by the pain.

[Poach]

Bayard saw the blow coming and moved to parry, but did not anticipate the strength of a man making his last strike of the day. With nothing left to give, Hightower put everything into the slash, which simply continued through Stark's parry and caught his leg. A howl of pain went up as the sword bit into the thigh.

This was the moment, though. His sword was trapped, his focus on the blow, and his neck close by. Bayard raised Ice and, through the bloody mist that was engulfing his vision, chopped down onto the join between shoulder and neck.