The Tourney of Storm's End

Hooves thundered and crowds cheered as the tourney of Storm’s End took place across two days. The tourney grounds had been built within sight of Storm’s End, surrounded by a colorful campsite over which flew the standards of what seemed like half the houses in the south. Rivermen, Valemen, Westermen, Reachmen, and more were represented.

A smaller crowd of smallfolk stood around the field for the first event of the tourney, an archery competition. It was not the most loved of events, clearly, but a knot of noblemen stood at the far end of an archery range built to be one hundred paces long. They spoke softly, it was a quiet morning. Birds chirped in the distance, darting hither and thither among the nearby tree branches. Five arrows were given to each man, and by the time the last arrow struck the target it became clear that Lord Edric Estermont had won the event.

At midday on the first day the tourney began the melee. The competitors arranged into two teams, drawing their lots randomly but for the Prince and his Kingsguard. On the first team were Ser Ryam Ryger, Ser Lambert Redwyne, Ser Jason Lonmouth, Lord Leo Florent, Ser Theo Lydden, Ser Jack Penrose, and lastly the mystery knight calling themself the Knight of Bones. On the second team were Ser Raymont Baratheon, Ser Ambrose Rivers, Ser Gyles Morrigen, Ser Maric Hardy, Prince Maekar Targaryen, Ser Jon Byrch, and Ser Florian Rivers.

The two teams fought bitterly, knocking out or forcing to yield many men at an equal pace. Last to stand on the second team was Ser Maric Hardy, who made a gallant effort against two foes. In the end, however, he fell and Lord Florent and Ser Jack Penrose stood off for the victor’s purse-- Ser Jack fell after a lengthy duel, making Lord Leo Florent the winner.

At midday the second day began the joust. In the first round the most notable tilt was the shockingly close contest between Ser Lambert Redwyne and Ser Theo Lydden-- the Knight of the Arbor nearly unhorsing his foe several times before being unhorsed himself. Also of note was the positively brutal contest between Ser Raymont Baratheon and Ser Maric Hardy of the Kingsguard-- a total of nine lances were broken between the men, but the majority were Ser Maric’s and Ser Maric advanced. Importantly, as well, Lord Ben Fossoway unhorsed the Knight of Bones and was given the choice to unmask them.

The second round saw Lord Ben Fossoway unhorsing Maric Hardy, Gyles Morrigen unhorsing Ser Jack Penrose, the much-anticipated matchup of Lord Leo Florent and Ser Theo Lydden being a disappointingly short affair, and Lancel Fossoway advancing to face the winner.

In the third round Lord Ben Fossoway earned the right to unmask the second mystery knight in the tourney, the Knight of Brindles. Lydden unhorsed Lancel Fossoway after a handful of tilts. To determine the second finalist, Ser Gyles Morrigen and Lord Ben Fossoway faced off-- Lord Fossoway won their contest and advanced to face Ser Theo Lydden.

Ser Theo then unhorsed Lord Ben in one tilt, bringing the entire thing to a swift close and collecting the winner’s purse and a crown of wildflowers he would use to name a Queen of Love and Beauty.

There would still be feasting and celebration, but the Tourney of Storm’s End was now a matter for the history books.