Royal Army's Tournament of Arms - Preliminary Rounds

Twenty-fith Day, Sixth Moon,
Twenty-Third Year of Recent Awakenings

In accordance with the will of Her Majesty and in upholding the duties charged to me as Senior Chronicler, I hereby submit the account of Royal Army's Tournament of Arms - Preliminary Rounds.

The fourth week of the sixth moon found the Practice Hall in the Outer Bailey alight with activity. The Royal Army had devised a Tournament of Arms that kept the practice hall near bursting for the whole week. As each House and Guild were permitted to sponsor three combatants, there was representation and support from plenty.

Moon's day started with a bang, with many of the preliminary matches being accomplished. The first to test their mettle against each other was Yeoman Crevan, representing the Army and ser Venture who had been sponsored by Dame Josie. While the two fought gallantly it was eventually ser Venture that pressed forward in the intermediate tier.

The next battle of night came from the master tier. Ser Harabec, fighting on behalf of the Winter Watch and Master Leodegrance on behalf of His Excellency, Lord Boreas. As the participants bantered back and forth, the crowd began their cheering and support. While ser Harabec put up a valiant fight, Master Leodegrance took the round with two swift wins, before continuing for the honor point. Ser Venture was noted as saying, "Ser Harabec has been remarkable so far, yet it seems that the good Master's defenses are quite...una-snail-able."

A brief break was taken as the crowd waited for more competitors to arrive. Making use of the space, many began testing and battling each other in good fun and support of the tournament. After some time, the third official battle for the night began.

The only contestants within the beginner tier were ser Chieke against sera Arlenia for the Duelist. Ser Chieke had been noted as entering in support of the tournament and to make sure that the sera had someone to fight against. Sir Varick cheered on the sera, using the epithet she had pulled from the naming jar provided previously, "The unflinching! For the Duelist Society!"

Sera Arlenia took the first match quickly, to the general cheer of the crowd. She was just as quick to take the second match before turning to bow to her opponent, "Thank you for the honor of facing you, ser."

At the end of that match, Captain Vessa turned to the room and sought out the next pair. This consisted of Sir Varick, representing House Galatea, and Corporal Raulison representing the Winter Watch. The Dame addressed the two men, "Sir Varick the Strong and Corporal Raulison the Gifted... are you both ready to fight this evening?"

As this was a master tier, the match was lively and filled with clashing steel. The pair fought closely and with honor but Sir Varick took the first two rounds. Yeoman Sigrun had eyed the Sir Varick's dagger and rapier pair as she called it, "Absolutely terrifying."

Yeoman Sigrun was also among the next to fight, being in the intermediate tier and representing the Army. She took on the winner of the beginner tier, Sera Arelnia. While sera Arlenia seemed to expect to be defeated swiftly, she took to the matches with enthusiasm. Yeoman Sigrun encouraged her attitude before eventually defeating the sera.

While that did end events for the evening, Captain Vessa thanked those present warmly, "Thank you to our contestants for their excellent displays this evening. It has been impressive to watch."

That was not the end of the preliminary round though, as they started early again the next morning. While the crowd was much less at the eight early bells, the battle was no less fierce.

Sera Heulyn represented the LPA, while Major Vincint fought on behalf of Lady Sinvy's House. The Major laid some quick and deft blows, using a combination of short sword and dagger. Eventually, he fell to the sera, pushing her into the semi-finals.

While the practice hall remained well populated, it would not be until later that evening that contestants officially began battling again. Yeoman Sigrun once again took to the floor. This time she was to go against the previously defeated Yeoman Crevan. Both represented the Royal Army. While Yeoman Sigrun did not manage to advance into the semi-finals, she pressed herself wholeheartedly into the match.

Next to go was Master Ilatai who was representing Prince Bertram, had arrived to put on a show, and brought his very own golden gruel mug to play into his epithet of 'The Okay'. He fought against Master Tristan, who had dedicated himself on behalf of House Swan. Cheers bounded on both sides, supported by their houses and their partners. After two rounds, Master Ilatai was able to take the lead and claim his spot in the semi-finals.

Next to fight were sera Khalea and Liuetneant Kathris. During the matches Sir Varick teased the fighters good-humoredly, "It seems the Gracious Lynx has solved the mystery thus far, does sera Khalea yet have more secrets at hand?" Mistress Kathris took the win shortly after.

The second to last battle of the night consisted of Serjeant Nexian representing House Sinvy and sera Aleysia fighting on behalf of the Duelist. Both were intended to put on a show, bantering with each other and the crowd. Sera Aleysia coaxed the serjeant at the start of the match with a teasing challenge, "En garde, Master Nexian."

Serjeant Nexian took the first round decisively, as the room continued their banter and cheering. The Serjeant played into the story pulling his scarf over his face, "Ah, I should hide my face for a proper villain." This time the match was much longer passed, sera Aleysia pressing back before eventually falling, pushing Serjeant Nexian into the semi-finals.

The final match of both the night and the preliminaries was against Master Aratan, fighting for Prince Bertram and Watchwoman Trystan, on behalf of the Winter Watch. While the Master quickly took the first round, he paused to kindly encourage and command the Watchwomen. This seemed to help bolster the Watchwoman, allowing her to press on longer for the next round. While she was not able to succeed, she did put in a good show and effort as Master Aratan advanced into the semi-finals.

Captain Vessa thanked those that were there once more. She relayed that a fresh posting would be up shortly to let those know who they would be facing next and freeing everyone from the room. Many people expressed their thanks for the fun had so far to Captain Vessa and Dame Eeva before slipping away to prepare for the matches that would commence the next day.



This chronicle will be subject to changes and corrections. I humbly ask all readers to please indicate to me discreetly, any falsehoods I may have mistakenly communicated. It is by means of the conservation of the Past that we continue to serve Her Majesty and give substance to those that follow.

In service to Her Majesty Queen Vivienne, The Office of the Chronicler, and the Denizenry of Her Majesty's Realm.

Sera Kaira
Senior Chronicler