On the cleared challenge ground, the Baron's knight, a young adult human man with a square-jawed face and cropped brown hair reels beneath Maurice's attack, a tall armored man in a blue surcoat, his visor split and shield hanging low. Before surrender can come, the fallen contestant, a young adult human man with a lean build, dusty blond hair, and a torn red gambeson jerks upright beside him, ashen skin stretched over blackened veins.
The contestant snatches up his dropped sword with a stiff, unnatural motion. The knight steadies, glances at this impossible ally, then turns his blade back toward Maurice instead of yielding.
the Baron's knight
As the Baron promised, you death will restore my families honor.
The herald's staff strikes the judges' platform. His command cuts through the tournament roar as guards surge toward the ring and physicians gather at its edge, uncertain whether to approach.
The Broad-Shouldered Herald
Physicians! Guards! Restrain that contestant and protect the champion! By the Baron’s law, this bout is suspended!
Celia Graves
No. That is not a spreading sickness. Something has seized him and taught the dead weight of his body to stand.
Elianor Vale
Maurice! The knight means to use it. Do not let them drive you toward the gallery!
✓ Quest Accepted
Contain the possessed contestant
“I deflect an attack by the Baron's knight, while Celia casts a spell to immobilize the possessed contestant.”
SUCCESS (Legendary Melee Weapons, rolled +0)
The Baron's knight lunges, blue surcoat twisting as his sword cuts for Maurice's ribs. Maurice turns the executioner's sword across the strike and catches it cleanly.
Steel shrieks. Maurice's deflection drives the knight's blade wide, forcing the armored man backward and leaving the possessed contestant exposed between them.
Celia Graves
By the god who granted me this hand, be still.
Celia raises one palm. A stark, deathly radiance gathers around the fallen contestant's limbs, locking his sword arm and halting his jerking advance.
The contestant remains upright but immobile, blackened veins stark beneath ashen skin. His seized sword slips from rigid fingers and strikes the ground.
the Baron's knight
Witchcraft! Guards, break her concentration and finish the champion!
The guards hesitate at the ring's edge while physicians keep their distance. Elianor leans over the gallery rail, her voice carrying through the sudden hush.
✓ Quest Accepted
Defeat the Baron’s knight
Quest Complete
Contain the possessed contestant
“I place my blade at the knights neck and tell him "yield or die"”
SUCCESS (Superb Willpower, rolled +2)
Maurice steps inside the knight’s guard and turns the executioner’s sword beneath his raised arm. The blade settles against the exposed line of the knight’s neck.
Maurice Headsman
Yield or die.
The knight freezes. His sword remains lifted, but the point drifts away from Maurice as the guards stop at the ring’s edge, watching their champion held under sentence.
the Baron's knight
I yield. Lower your sword, and I will answer before the Baron’s law.
The knight lowers his blade and drops to one knee. Around him, the Estate Guards hold position while the physicians keep their distance from the motionless, seized contestant.
Elianor Vale
Keep him there, Maurice. His surrender gives us a witness, and his master may know who brought this curse into the estate.
Celia Graves
Do not let anyone touch the fallen man yet. If death has not claimed him, I may still draw the curse out.
Quest Complete
Defeat the Baron’s knight