Chapter 31 - Chivalry and Perjury

General Summary

The party reassembles at the Honey Pot, and, except for Nit, who decides to stay back and train Carrot, they head to Schneidergang, the Tailor's suburb, to try to meet with Walther, the town schultheiss. Once having arrived and having been granted an audience at the guild, they meet Walther, a mousy, graying man with clever fingers. Vesogoth leads the others in asking whether the town has employment opportunities for competent and adventurous people. Walther replies that if the obviously armed people seek employment, they should speak to the landgrave directly. Dietmar inquires whether the landgrave would support a foray into Hegenburg, whose people are suffering under Matilda's yoke, and Walther says he will make inquiries with the bishop's people - it is known that the Hegenburg cathedral houses the Shinbone of St. Leo in its crypt, and it is likely that the former would be prepared to pay for having it transferred to Rotz . His companions press Dietmar for more information, and he says that he's aware of its presence, but is skeptical about taking it from Hegenburg, whose people may have need of it. Walther adds that those who seek to make a fortune, or getting enough money to afford silver weapons for their trek should consider entering the landgrave's tournament, which starts on the morrow, and runs three days. The joust has the highest prize for the winner - 1000 marks, while the melee and the archery contest would pay 500 each. More importantly, the winners of each round of the joust and melee are within their rights to hold the loser's armor for ransom.
The schultheiss' visitors are intrigued, none moreso than Ingrid . She would like nothing better than to enter the lists, but holds back, wary of taking a risk. She does push Dmitrei , who is a genuine knight, into participating. The joust is tempting, but lacking a horse, he opts for the melee instead. He asks whether Vesogoth would like to take part. The rustic thinks he's not exactly tournament material, though he feels confident he would win the archery contest if the rules allowed him to enter. Dmitrei then declares that he will introduce him as his squire, which should gain him entry.
The group returns to town, and proceeds to the Rathaus, where Mertin von Oldenburg, the landgrave's major domo, presides over registering entrants. Dmitrei strolls over and presents his scroll of pedigree. The Wolkens are a well-known and ancient family, and vassals of the landgrave to boot, so there is little question of adding his name to the lists. He then takes a risk, and announces Vesogoth as his squire. Mertin wrinkles his nose a bit, but the words of a Wolken are to be taken at faith value, so Vesogoth is entered as well. The group then retires back to the Honey Pot, to rest before the big day, and to eat Dietmar's divine mush.
The following day, they all proceed to the tournament grounds outside the city walls. Colorful tents have been set up with entertainment and refreshment for the contestants. Dietmar insists on blessing the duo of contestants prior to their rounds, though he is aware that other participants, especially the well-born, have brought their own friars with them. Inside the tent, Dmitrei mixes a bit with the participants. The most high-born knights do not deign to mix with those they consider rabble, but Dmitrei talks to a young man with a nondescript green-brown shield named Herr Osswald, who is also to fight in the melee. Osswald seems a bit nervous, revealing that this is his first tournament. He also asks Dmitrei for advice about his first-round opponent, a knight named Dmitrei von Wolken. Dmitrei walks away without revealing his identity. In the meantime, Vesogoth is on the other side of the tent, reserved for archers. The criteria for archers is quite a bit lower than for entrants to the melee or jousting lists, though there is also lower risk - the loser in each round stands to lose nothing aside from bragging rights.
The archery contest, being the least prestigious starts first, and is the worst attended. Vesogoth's opponent is Cristin the Sentinel, apparently a fowler for some lord or other. Despite the blessings from Dietmar the pep talk from Nit, and repeated rubs of his wooden crucifix, it's not Vesogoth's day. Several of his shots miss the target altogether, and the rest are further from the center than Cristin's, who, after five shots, is declared the winner. Vesogoth is unhappy with the outcome, and begins seeking to salvage some consolation by lifting Cristin's purse. Cristin seems to be a seasoned tournament participant, and has his purse hidden and tightly wound around his belt and under his cloak, though it does not escape Vesogoth's sharp eye. He begins to stalk Cristin, hoping to get an opportunity to get the purse when the victor lets his guard down.
Dmitrei fares little better. He wears his helm to keep Osswald from recognizing him, but his opponent, so humble in the tent, actually is quite a bit looser out on the pitch. The two are very evenly matched, in fact. They trade blows, and are both very keen in anticipating their opponent's counterblows. The blocks and parries make it appear that they are fighting each other's blades. But perhaps Osswald wields the superior sword, which accumulates multiple nicks, and finally, is shattered by this opponent. Osswald then smashes his opponent's shield. Dmitrei switches tactics, and tries to grapple his opponent, but his frustration begins to show, and while Osswald pushes him aside, he gets nicked by his opponent's blade, causing a bloody gash to open in an area poorly protected by his coif. Osswald demands to know if Dmitrei yields, but after one refusal, the pitch begins to be covered by the dark stains of his blade, and Dmitrei calls it quits. While the attendants rush over to stop the blood flow, Osswald compliments his opponent on a well-fought bout, and says that he will send his squire over to collect Dmitrei's armor. Dmitrei acknowledges his loss honorably, and Dietmar helps take some of the sting out of the loss by uttering prayers to mend the loser's sword and shield, and healing their wielder. Ingrid prays for Dmitrei's health as well. At the end, only the pain of defeat remains.

Character(s) interacted with

• Walther, schultheiss of Rotz
• Mertin von Oldenburg, the landgrave's major domo
• Cristin the Sentinel
• Herr Osswald 

Report Date

25 May 2021

Primary Location

Rotz auf den Wunsch