Festive Fights: Part I

The Arena in Lord Beatha's Courtyard.

The Night in Lord Bae’artha’s Manor continues, and the Dreamers prepare for the Tournament.

## Plot:

The Episode opens on Emelya and Sir John, with Sir John awkwardly asking if they could talk again later, at some point.  Emelya reminds him to be careful.

Gwendolyn Snow slips out of the keep and traverses her way through the city to meet Sir Phillip at the tavern.  Sir Phillip reveals to her that he had been a mentor to Mordred after he left the Caravan, and that Mordred had often spoken of her during their time together.  Gwendolyn remarks that that had made her feel at once happy and sad.

Sir Phillip informs her that he is also looking to find a way to stop Mordred, and that in the next few days she would be hearing troubling news about the plan Mordred is enacting.  He reveals that Phillip was, in fact, his father’s name and not his true name, but he does not share his real name with her.

They part ways, and Gwendolyn makes her way back to the keep and takes some time to properly explore it, finding a small hidden compartment behind a painting.

Meanwhile

Doc is also in the Keep, trying to sneak around the premises, but he is caught by a guard and a maid who were cleaning up after the dinner.  He manages to get away by offering to help them clean up and carrying dishes down to the kitchens for the maid.  He then steals a cordial intended for the Lady of the Manor and makes his way back up to the rooms.

The Entity wishes him a good night, still standing on watch outside the bedrooms while carefully dissecting the plate of food it was given during the dinner.

In the Room

Lucius tosses and turns in bed, having a nightmare about a many-armed fish drags him into the water during a fishing trip while fireflies cackle at him.  The others hear him screaming in his sleep.  The guards come to check on him and he nearly takes one of their heads off by throwing an axe in his sleep.

In the Morning

The Dreamers rise and make their way to the dinning hall and are in the process of taking their breakfast when Lord Beatha arrives and discusses with Sir John and then offers the party his thanks for protecting his lands.  He receives introductions to the party from sir John, and the Entity corrects him upon its introduction, maintaining that her name is Réalta Asling.  The Dreamers converse relatively politely with the Lord, who receives a letter durning breakfast.  The party excuses themselves one by one.  Doc remains behind in order to speak with Lord Beatha about the weight of responsibility, and then to make a request of the Lord.  He asks if he may be allowed to fight without armor and with no weapons.  Beatha agrees, after asking if Doc knows the risks.

At the Arena

Réalta and Lucius are announced as the first match, after the brackets are rearranged by Lord Beatha.  The two of them exchange blows with Lucius’ choice of weapons first, Longswords, and Réalta narrowly wins the exchange, and then to honor Lucius she requests Handaxes for the second round, and nearly loses to him before mimicking his form and winning the fight with a thrown axe.

The Second Bout is between Sir John and a lowlife known as Dicer the Rat.  Sir John handily wins both rounds, first with Longsword and then with twin daggers.

The Third bout is fought between Doc and Mance, who is gifted the use of Réalta’s Orb of Shielding to protect him, but Doc still handily defeats him.

The Fourth bout is won by a towering, intimidating knight named Sir Barrik the Bold, who nearly kills Tusak of the Guards in the first round, Tusak is carried off the field in a stretcher by the healers and Sir Barrik is labeled the winner by knockout.

Meanwhile

Gwendolyn Snow is approached by Sir Phillip, who informs her that he is actually going to have to leave the group very shortly in order to deal with a major event.  He confides his true identity, that of Dio Aguste Phillipe III, to her and maintains that she is not alone in her quest to deal with Mordred.

Back at the Tournament

Sir John and a guard who no one can remember are picked by Lord Beatha for a free pass to the semifinals, and Réalta is paired up with a guard who surrenders after his first round with her.

But Doc is pitted against Sir Barrik, and has to fight barehanded against the imposing knight.  The fight feels narrow at first, but then Doc draws on a well of inner strength and manages to lay Sir Barrik low with a powerful headbutt that crumpled the visor of his helm inward.  The crowd goes wild and Doc’s name is chanted by his adoring admirers.

> And the Winner is the Doctor of Orian!
>
> The Herald, Korvei, Source Here

As Doc recovers from his bout and Réalta collects their winnings, it is announced that in the Semifinals Doc and Réalta will be squaring off.  The two of them look at each other across the ring, and the episode draws to a close.

## Quotes:

> I just wanted you to know that there are others out there who have the need to see him stopped, and the regret for that need.
>
> Sir Phillip, Source Here