The Tournament at Dunstable, 1400

[Gandalfus]

Dunstable, in Bedfordshire, has been one of England's most popular tournament sites for decades, dating back to Longshanks' son who hosted a grandiose tournament here in 1309. The realm's nobility have all gathered here to witness the great event, along with hundreds of lower gentry and commoners. First, there shall be the great melee, a more ancient tradition than the joust in which all contestants engage in combat upon horseback, with the last man standing declared the winner. Then comes the lists, with knights facing each other in the joust. Certainly there shall be a grand prize for the victor, but the wealthy lords of England care more for prestige and honour than mere money. The quiet town of Dunstable comes alive for the event; thousands of tents are raised, platforms erected, swords and armour forged by the local smiths, merchants coming to peddle their goods to the crowds that have come to watch England's finest warriors compete for glory.

[Mary The Quene]

Ralph Neville, First Earl of Westmorland arrives at Dunstable, with the Nevilles rising in peerage and landholding at is time to show of their new found status in the tournament.

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Sir Thomas Swynford arrives at Dunstable too, Swynford is pretty much an unknown figure to the larger audience but with his (hopefully) new bride and him taking part in the tournament this would change.

[Xion]

The Earl of Devon arrives at the head of a sizable contingent of servants, retainers, and members of the various branches of the House de Courtenay, with his uncle Phillip, and cousins John, Robert, and Richard all entering the tournament while Devon and the others will be watching from the stands. Devon is accompanied by his son James and daughter Emeline.

[General Brewster]

The Duke of York and the Earl of Cambridge arrived together with the King, as per their official roles.
Their wives had traveled together from York Manor in London to watch the spectacle from the stands.

[Lucius Malfoy]

The Earl of Northumberland and the Duke of Buckingham arrive with the King as well, as members of His Majesty's court.

[Mary The Quene]

Sir Swynford approaches Lord Buckingham, Swynford wearing a modest dress.

Oh, Lord Buckingham, good to see you, a beautiful day to joust, no? he asked with a faint smile, perhaps there was news about the proposed marriage to Isabel.

[Barry Goldwater]

The Earl of Warwick arrives, being one of the participants in the tourney. Though he scarcely showed it, Richard Beauchamp was in a rather good mood, having gotten to cradle his newly born daughter shortly before setting off for Dunstable's tourney field.

[Gandalfus]

The contestants are called to take their place in the melee, announced by the heralds. Emerging onto the field of battle, on horseback and fully armoured. After the signal is given from the King, the melee begins, with the knights peeling off to engage in single combat with each other.

First Phase of the Melee

Richard of Conisburgh, Earl of Cambridge vs John Holland, Duke of Exeter The first to clash were the Earl of Cambridge and the Duke of Exeter. John Holland was unhorsed, but bravely and ferociously fought back to bring the Earl of Cambridge down, with Conisburgh eventually giving the signal to yield. Harry Percy, Earl of Northumberland vs Sir Thomas Swynford Swynford and Percy duelled for a time on horseback, eventually somewhat comically knocking each other into the dirt. After a brawl, Swynford emerged victorious, forcing Northumberland to yield after a long and drawn out clash. Thomas Holland, Duke of Surrey vs Sir Thomas Percy Seems the Hollands are lucky. Surrey bests Percy in the melee, though not easily, the wily old knight providing a stern challenge for the youthful Duke. Percy was eventually out-muscled and duly yielded. John Beaufort, Earl of Somerset vs Sir Philip de Courtenay Somerset knocks Sir Philip from his horse with a forceful smack from his longsword. Courtenay, lying in the dirt, is forced to yield. John Holland, Baron Rotherham vs John FitzAlan, Earl of Shrewsbury Somewhat surprisingly, Rotherham bests Maltravers. Although the unheralded Holland got off to a rocky start, he smacks Shrewsbury square in the face with his mace, crushing the Earl's helmet. The famed soldier is duly forced to yield. Edward of Norwich, Duke of York, vs Richard de Beauchamp, Earl of Warwick York is bested by the younger Earl, whose martial prowess clearly matches that of his father. After a closely fought duel, York yields, knocked into the dirt by Warwick. Ralph Neville, Earl of Westmorland vs Thomas Beaufort, Earl of Kendal. Kendal puts up a spirited fight, but Westmorland ultimately outmatches him. Kendal is forced to yield the field after suffering from some minor injuries. John Hastings, Earl of Pembroke vs Sir Richard de Courtenay Hastings is annihilated. Pembroke is knocked from horseback by a brutal blow from Courtenay's mace, and knocked back down again at the second time of asking. He promptly yields to spare his life from the ferocious Devonshire knight. Sir John de Courtenay... Didn't face anyone of note, defeating a minor knight after a short scuffle.

[General Brewster]

Edward of York moves toward Henry Percy after their losses.

"Henry, I see you have the same amount of luck as I have" he said somewhat downbeat.

[Lucius Malfoy]

Edward of York moves toward Henry Percy after their losses.

"Henry, I see you have the same amount of luck as I have" he said somewhat downbeat.

Its all the younger Lords these days. We are an aging generation, Lord York.

Harry turns to dunk his head into the barrel and was shortly joined by the elderly Sir Thomas.

You can see for yourself that all the younger nobles are winning this after all.

[General Brewster]

Its all the younger Lords these days. We are an aging generation, Lord York.

Harry turns to dunk his head into the barrel and was shortly joined by the elderly Sir Thomas.

You can see for yourself that all the younger nobles are winning this after all.

York stood there nodding.
"Aye, it would seem so indeed. The realisation we are now the old generation hurts me" he said jokingly. Aging fell hard on him.
"Say Henry, have you had new developments in the situation since you last visited me"? York asked somewhat cryptically.

[Mary The Quene]

The Earl of Westmorland moves to meet with Thomas Beaufort after beating him narrowly, he was a worthy opponent.

You fought well, My lord Kendall, you're a good fighter. Westmorland said, surely his wife would be proud.

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Swynford was proud, a humble knight beats an earl after a comic match, he decided to stay his gentle self and pay his respect to the loser.

Well fought My Lord, you were a good match! Maybe he would prove the surprise of the tournament.

[Oznerol]

The duke of Exeter had arrived with his tournament harness, a partially gilded armor, with intricate bands of filigree around the border of the gauntlets, along the vambraces and brassards. The bascinet was topped by a jewelled coronet and white hart badge. He wore a green surcoat, again emblazoned by a purely white hart, crowned and chained or. His horse was covered in green drappings, heavily embroidered with Is and Es interwined, for John and Elizabeth, harts and roses. No expense was spared and the duke was as ostentatious as a prince all covered in his livery colors and clad in golden finery. Holland was famous for his skill atop a horse, having won fame in Spain against the finest knights in Aviz's and Gaunt's armies and courts. He had to face the young earl of Cambridge, who, unexpectedly managed to unhorse him with a square hit. However, the duke didn't want or wouldn't yield to a young brat, bastard of his or not, so he fought back, relentlessly, ignoring Cambridge's advantage atop his stallion. Exeter fought back indeed, and brought down Cambridge, forcing him to yield after a ferocious struggle and a equally fierce beating. Exeter was breathing heavily, sitting over Cambridge's chest, when the earl yielded.

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The duke of Surrey, however, managed to deliver another impression on the audience. He came on foot, visor raised, with Lady Philippa riding a horse like an amazon before her husband: both the duke and duchess hold the extremes of a golden chain. It was a chivalric prove of love, and once Surrey had mounted, Lady Philippa gave him a token of her love: a silken scarf. Holland's horse drappings and surcoat are red, all covered in interwined Ts and Ps and a maze of golden roses. Surrey's helmet is topped by a singular crest: a red-haired maiden carrying a heart. The self-styled Knight of Love hard fought his victory against a grey-haired Percy, hardened by the North and years of experience. Noneless, Holland was glad to being proclaimed victor, dedicating his victory to lady Philippa, to whom he presented the arms of the vanquished as a token of devotion.

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Compared to the grandeur of his brother and uncle, John, baron Rotherham, wears a simple armor, plain steel, and the badge of his father and grandmother pending from the neck. His crest is a white lion, that of Hollands, but is simple and unadorned, far from the wooden wonders his relatives wore. Lanky, golden haired and quite nervous and excited, Rotherham didn't expect to win, at all, but he braced himself for the tilts. Wonderfully, the young lad managed to square a tremendous hit, who would have thought, to Maltravers' head, knocking him down easily; probably FitzAlan had been too overconfident and thought such a young Holland could do little against him. He was wrong: fiery was the Hollands' blood.

[Lucius Malfoy]

The Earl of Northumberland may have had the experience of the North, but not the youth of Sir Swynford. Yet, as any member of his family, just like his uncle, Sir Thomas, he stubbornly held his own against the half-brother of the Beauforts and stepbrother of the King. Yet in the end, his muscles grew tired and he eventually yielded, his skin soaked and agitated by the heat of the duel. As Harry rises, he catches the words of Sir Thomas. He raises his gloved hand, acknowledging the praise before walking off to dunk his head in some water.

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Among the participants, there was only one grizzled looking male. The grey-haired Sir Thomas Percy, the uncle to the Earl of Northumberland. At present, he was considered one of the oldest members alive within the Kingdom. The North having made him strong and enduring, as the Duke of Surrey noticed in their joust. Yet, with age, came consequences of bone and flesh. His muscles weren't like they used to be and, in the end, Sir Thomas Percy was outmaneuvered by Surrey, after keeping a stern challenge. He decides to walk off to join his nephew, knowing he would lost some fights and win others.

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John Hastings was hardly a warrior, most likely the reason why he lost to Courtenay badly.

[The Mad Skylord]

Maltravers had started the bout by easily smashing the young Holland about, before he rose high in his stirrups with his mace - to deliver a final blow - and overextended. The next thing the fierce Earl knew, he was lying in the mud, his helmet crushing his nose. Having yielded, the fierce Earl rose graciously and quit the field - though there was an edge of irritation in his eyes.

[Oznerol]

The earl must have been delusional, clearly the hit had baffled his senses, because he spent a while knocking the air, and Maltravers didn't even land a good hit on Rotherham after the lance was splintered on his head. What a poor show. Rotherham even had to check the noble earl found the way to his tent, as he was terribly confused and probably a bit idle on the brain. After being absolutely smashed by the young baron, some ladies started to nickname him "Mal-Faller".

[Gandalfus]

Kendal raised a gauntlet to Neville in salute, before quitting the field.

--

Somerset was clad in fine steel, a regal lion sat atop his helm, horse barding decorated with the badge of the Portcullis. The lance he used was quickly shattered upon impact, and so, Somerset drew his sword, engaging in a fierce melee with the Courtenay knight, who's mace misses the crest of his helm by a hair; the opening Somerset needed to land a blow that sent Courtenay into the dirt, forcing the yield, before helping the man to his feet and remounting again.

[Barry Goldwater]

Young Warwick was surprised, and quite pleased, at his victory - however narrow - over the older and more experienced Duke of York. It would seem he was living up to his father's legacy after all.

Of course, then he remembered this was only the first round.

[General Brewster]

Young Warwick was surprised, and quite pleased, at his victory - however narrow - over the older and more experienced Duke of York. It would seem he was living up to his father's legacy after all.

Of course, then he remembered this was only the first round.

York brought over his congratulations, he'd rather lose to Warwick then to a Holland like his damned brother...

[Gandalfus]

Phase 2

Ralph Neville, Earl of Westmorland vs Sir Richard de Courtenay Westmorland wins again, a cute blow from Neville's mace catching Courtenay on the temple and sending him sprawling onto his backside. Westmorland closes in, securing the yield and victory. Thomas Holland, Duke of Surrey vs Richard de Beauchamp, Earl of Warwick Surrey continues to see good fortune, his ferocity and energy proving too much for the young Earl of Warwick, who nonetheless coped with him admirably; a less competent fighter could have been killed, such was the force and precision put into each blow. Dismounted and disarmed, Warwick yielded the field. John Holland, Baron Rotherham vs Sir John Courtenay Though Rotherham didn't fare as poorly as Pembroke against an experienced Devonshire knight, Courtenay ran amok, the speed of his attacks leaving the baron Holland of Rotherham reeling. Soon, he'd been knocked off horse and onto his backside, and forced to yield. John Holland, Duke of Exeter vs Sir Thomas Swynford In what was clearly the greatest upset of the day, the unheralded step-brother of the king unseated his famed brother by marriage, the Lord Holland of Exeter. They are both dismounted, duelling on foot, until finally Swynford gains the upper hand, disarming the Duke and forcing him to yield. John Beaufort, Earl of Somerset vs Sir Robert de Courtenay One of the shorter contests, Beaufort used a mace this time; it ended up making a severe dent in Courtenay's chest as the Devonshireman was knocked crudely from the saddle, and promptly forced to yield.