DC 129 | Encrypted to Specials

[lefey]

I don't think it's escaped anyone's notice that things are getting more violent of late, but we can't walk in groups all the time and I strongly suspect someone would notice if I carried around a sword, which is the only weapon I really know how to use.

So I've been thinking and wondering if anyone - who is not Steve because I doubt he'd hit me - would be willing to teach me some hand to hand?

I'm sure I'm not the only one who could use a little help in one department or the other, perhaps we could have some sparring sessions at HQ if people are interested? Basically, anything to aid in less of us getting shot or collapsing on live TV. Or being stabbed in some back corridor which I've gotten the impression a few of my friends think will happen to me because I walk alone at night.

Comments

[a_man_out_of_time]

I think we've already established that your father is an exceptional man.

A few pieces huh? Did you try it on yourself?

[lefey]

Yeah, but even Arthur can take a tumble in it and get up, and considering the size of his head from people puffing up his ego, that's no easy feat.

Mostly chainmail, Uther kind of frowns upon blacksmiths who humour me. However, I fit into some of the squire's stuff and Gwen is great at helping me.

[...Was.]

[a_man_out_of_time]

Can't say I've tried that either. Chainmail's the lighter stuff right? That knights usually wear on the inside?

[lefey]

You wear a shirt, then padding, then leathers if you have them, then the hauberk. We have plate mail too, mostly worn by the men not in leather armour.

The helmets are awful, you can barely see. But then getting maced in the face is also awful.

[The actual, literal, genuine kind of mace too. Tiny little stick of death.]

I was trained with the boys until age reminded them that I wasn't one.

[a_man_out_of_time]

Sounds complicated. Which, seems about right.

[ His uniform back home isn't actually that much easier to put on. But if you fight, you gotta have a uniform. ]

And then?

[lefey]

Relegated to the life of a lady where my company is offered as a prize and my favour worn in form of a ribbon.

Still good with a sword, though, Gwen and I went with Arthur and Merlin to help save Merlin's village.

[a_man_out_of_time]

Maybe you should teach me to fight with a sword sometime.

[ He smiles a little, when he sends that out. ]

What do you mean your favour, worn as a ribbon?

[ This is where they're reaching the limits of Steve's knowledge about her time. He knows enough about knights to know what they wear and that they fight. But he doesn't know about the jousting. ]

[lefey]

I have some cardboard ones that I made, though I suspect we could find something truer to life. They're in HQ.

[Aka, yes, please. That would be delightful.]

A Lady may give a knight her favour, it's a token - commonly a ribbon or cloth in her colours but some give other things. You could say it's a blessing of sorts, intended to give good luck. He gives it back to her if he survives, or she lets him keep it, usually if there's more than simple fondness there.

[a_man_out_of_time]

Cardboard seems good to me.

And I'd think that tradition sounds nice ... if it didn't involve people dying.

[lefey]

You can die of a cold. Or because people hate your kind, or your Prince killed a unicorn...

Mostly tourneys aren't to the death, though.

[a_man_out_of_time]

So when you said 'if he survives' earlier ... how often *does* he survive?

[lefey]

Depends at least a little if someone is seeking revenge on Uther at the time... Valiant had a shield with vipers on it. Arthur nearly died.

As in, they came out of the picture and were real.

[a_man_out_of_time]

What do you mean?

[ He doesn't follow what she's saying here, probably because he's missing some kind of context. Steve's not even sure they're talking about tournaments anymore. ]

[lefey]

At a torney, Sir Valiant, a Knight from another Kingdom was competing. He was very good, but it turns out why he was good is his shield was enchanted. It was painted with a crest of vipers, and when he said the magic word they would come alive and attack the man he had on the ground. From the stands it looked like a regular fight, but it wasn't.

When Arthur was fighting him, his sword was knocked away and then suddenly, for some reason, the snakes came out from the shield in view of everyone. I had to throw Arthur a sword from the man beside me.