The Grand Tourney

For one month every five years the three powers of the North come together for the games. Hundreds of competitors from every kingdom attend, hoping to win glory, prestige, title and money in the jousting, archery, duels and most importantly the Grand Mêlée. The games are brutal - dozens leave on stretchers, more than a few finding their way to an early grave. However the competitions are not the only games being played. The Tourney is one of the few times when the Kings and nobles of so many nations are gathered in one place. Alliances, trade agreements and less than dubious deals are all made. Blows are struck in centuries old feuds and more than once the coups have been enacted, ending with either a new king sitting on a throne or another foolish noble losing his head. It is a viper's nest of politics the size of which is rarely seen.

This tourney has been anticipated and planned for months and is set to be the largest one in living memory. But tensions are high. Korvir, the largest of the Kingdoms is on the verge of war with Vagria over the a claim to the Dukedom of Brightwater. The other power, the Grand Duchy of Povis sit on the fence and skirmishes have already claimed the lives of hundreds in the border regions.

Can the war be won before its even begun, can a peace be found or will the Northern Kingdoms be engulfed in the flames of war?

You could take any role you want - King, Queen, Prince, Duke, Earl, Count, Baron, Knight or Stableboy - as long as it serves a purpose. Claiming more than one character is encouraged and you can do one shot pov's without posting a profile if it helps advance the plot. Most characters should be Vagrian or Korviri but at least one character should be a Povisian.

Template:

Spoiler

Name:
Age:
Gender:
Social Status: (Knight, baroness, count)
Affiliation: (Korvir, Vagria, Povis, Independant)
Appearance:
History:
Personality:
Up for love:
Other:

SB Rules:
- Swearing is allowed. As long as it is believable. Eg. don't have someone who has just been stabbed saying "darn, this hurts!".
- Romance and all that is allowed, same as above it has to be believable/
- No Mary sues. god-modding.
- No killing other people's characters without permission.
- No Magic, it cheapens the story in too many cases IMO
- Most characters should not be idealists. The vast majority should be morally grey opportunists as befits the pseudo-middle ages.
- If you are going to make a decision that directly affects other people's characters or plot lines please discuss it with them in the gdoc.
- If you are taking a high level character such as royalty or Duke of Brightwater please plan out your profile on the doc before you post it. Just so I can give it a wee once over.
- 100 word limit for post. But try to avoid walls of text.

gdoc link https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Wf8Ey1jHbC9QodbuFO0qIF9Qkr-eRWI_zzH4ABFrLJ0/edit
And finally thanks to ItalianIlluminist for the help. II is a mod for this SB so please heed what is said, though if you have any major issues (such as lore and what is expectable in the bounds of the story) feel welcome to PM me or use the gdoc

Taking the King of Korvir.

Might I remind those who wish to join that all requests/questions/applications should be made in the gdoc, which should, incidentally, be checked regularly. Much info about the countries omitted in this SB is mentioned there, and plotting for posts -- each post should further the plot reasonably (also, please refrain from making major posts without having confirmed with both Lothbrok and I) -- and such things should be done in said gdoc. The aforementioned gdoc will be updated regularly by either one of us.

In Lothbrok's absence, I am the final word and he who is ideally suited to answer questions, and vice-versa.

Just a reminder, this.

Edit: link to the DT.

Name: Isabelle (Belle) Tennet

Age: 16

Gender: Female

Status: Countess

Affiliation: Vagria

Appearance: Belle is a rather short, elfin girl, with a small bust and slender phisique. She has dark brown hair that she keeps in a thick braid that runs just past her shoulders; her eyes are squinty, green, appraising. Belle has a pale, lightly freckled face, with sharp cheekbones, a regal brow, and pointed features. Belle is never called pretty, but her intense eyes and good figure are what attracted her husband, the Cound Elmure Tennet, to her.

History: Belle grew up the daughter of a knight, Sir Peter Gerwin, and his wife, the Lady Elizabeth Gerwin. She was the youngest of five children: the eldest, Daniel, a muscular boy with an air of arrogance who followed in his father's footsteps to become a knight; Lucy, the beauty in the family, with the golden locks of her mother's family, who married the Baron Thomas MacDougal; the twins James and Arnold, both small and bookish boys who became priests; and, of course, Belle. She was quiet as a child and generally spent her time painting, sewing, or following her siblings around. At fifteen, she married Count Tennet, a man who was in his late twenties, handsome, and wealthy.

Personality: Belle is intelligent and witty, when people bother to listen to her. Despite her husband's obvious appeal, she does not love him, and he is often degrading when he speaks to her. Belle was self-taught how to read, but her real passion is painting. She is loyal to those who are kind to her, but she lacks common morals when it comes to getting what she wants. Belle is cunning and ambitious, and she wishes to make her mark upon this world.

Up for Love: If the guy is right, she's willing to have an affair.

Other: She has a way with animals, especially dogs, and a habit of twirling stray locks of hair around her finger.

Reserving the Duke of Brightwater.

Name: Sir Tygett of Westvale
Age:  28
Gender: Male
Social Status: Landed Knight
Affiliation: Vagria
Appearance: Tall, gaunt and lean. His nose had been broken several times and he has lost several teeth, giving him a crooked smile. His eyes are dead and emotionless. His hair is closely cropped and blonde.
History: Knighted for bravery by the King himself in a campaign against a severe bandit infestation in the King's Forest, later being given the estate of Westvale for dragging his liege before the King after he discovered that the man planned treason. He has made his name and fortune by serving in a mercenary company, where his skill and brutality earned him the moniker “The Butcher”. He now supplements that wealth and need for violence by competing in tournies.
Personality: A harsh and brutal man. He is not a knight in shining armour. To the lord who bought his contract he was a glorified attack dog, he would strike terror into the enemies of his master, becoming particularly efficient with the scorched earth tactic. He believes in hitting first and hitting hard.
Up for love: Only if it comes with an advantageous marriage.
Other: Wields a hand and a half sword.

Name: Prince Carsen Lovell

Age: 19

Gender: Male

Social status: Prince of Vagria

Affiliation: Vagria

Appearance: About 6'1", with a lean but muscle-y build (think swimmer's body). His hair is dark brown, medium length and his eyes are light grey. His skin is lightly tanned. He usually wears rather simple clothes; a simple white shirt, black vest, black pants, and a cloak.

​History: He is the only son of the King of Vagria, and clearly the family favourite as well as the kingdom's. His father often brought him with him on trips, showing him the kingdom and associating him with his future subjects. His father has taught him to hate the Korviri, but he secretly thinks his father is wrong. He has two young sisters. His mother gave birth to five children total, but only Carsen and his sisters survived. He's very outdoorsy and good with a sword or bow and arrow.

​Personality: Very daring and adventurous; thrill seeking. The Tourney is perfect for him, in other words. He's good natured, but has a dangerous temper, especially when he loses. He has a charismatic personality that tends to draw people to him, making him very likeable to the people of Vagria. He's a very big flirt.

Up for love: sure, if you can get him to commit (THAT would interesting)

​Other: He keeps his sword on him at all times, as well as his bow and arrows.

Name: Karina of Korvir (actual surname is Rishiko)
Age: 17
Gender: Female
Social Status: Princess of Korvir
Affiliation: Korvir
Appearance: Karina is of medium height, about 5'6", and has a graceful build. Her hair is curly and auburn, and falls just past her shoulders. She usually keeps it in a braid. Her left eye is bright green, and her right is yellowish hazel. She has pale skin, and is considered very beautiful. She wears elegant but loose clothes, usually in green or other earthy tones, and the only jewelry she wears is a chunk of black rock on a necklace chain. When she doesn't have to look good for social functions, she wears her riding outfit--a loose skirt, blouse and vest, and tall boots.
History: Because he was the King of Korvir, Karina didn't see her father very often. She was mostly raised by her mother and the maidservants. As a child, Karina was very observant, and she learned quickly how things worked in the kingdom. When she began to show a particular prowess for politics, her parents gave her much more freedom, and she didn't disappoint them. She was particularly interested in battle strategy, and she was able to help the King's admirals on several occasions. Most of her childhood, especially the time she spent studying military tactics, was kept secret, to preserve her image, so her many talents come as a surprise to those who don't know her.
Personality: Karina acts differently around different groups. Around royals, she is very proper; around commoners, she's courteous and kind. Although not everyone is aware, she is very smart. She has access to many resources, and she gets what she wants, usually through bribery and threatening. The people love her, and she knows how to use this to her advantage. She uses her freedom liberally, and makes sure that anyone who gets in her way doesn't do so again. She likes to visit the Korvirian soldiers, and she's particularly good at archery. She will probably bribe/threaten her way into the archery contest.
Up for love: Yes. She's faithful, but wary of marriage.
Other: She has her own bow, which she brings with her everywhere she travels. She also carries a small knife, hidden in her belt.

Name: Berengar the Hunter
Age: 49
Gender: male
Social Status: Grand Duke of Povis, Duke of Dreghorn and Blackmound, Warden of the Peaks.
Affiliation : Povis

Appearance: Berengar is a stocky man of average height, his arms and legs are thick with muscle. He has balding red hair and a beard that reaches the bottom of his neck. Both his face and body are heavily scarred giving him an unnerving look to many younger Lords.

History: Was the third son of the Duke of Dreghorn and as such was not held to the same standards as his elders. Instead of learning political protocol he learnt how to fight with a spear like the mountain tribesmen and hunting. He started with boar and wolves before moving onto the Trolls and Werewolves that infest the Povisian Mountains. Killing many of these beasts that plagued the passes, not just limited to the animal kind, earned him the respect and admiration of many of his father's subjects. In particular the slaying of a manticore suspected of killing close to two hundred people resulted in him gaining the loyalty of the Mountain tribesmen, with rumours (many started by Berengar himself) spreading that the young noble was the reincarnation of Mythol, a Povisian folk hero. His eldest brother died childless soon after becoming Duke in a duel with the the Duke of Blackmound. As Berengar's second brother, Giselbert, prepared to assume the title of Duke Berengar marched into Dreghorn hall at the head of a small army of fanatically loyal tribesmen and declared himself duke. Giselbert fled to Vagria while Berengar lead a campaign against the Duke of Blackmound. The campaign ended with the Duke of Blackmound, his family and all cadet branches being put to the sword and Blackmound hall being torn down. He became Grand Duke on the promise that the Mountain tribes would go into open revolt if he was not and has since proved adept at the job. To make up for the small population Berengar passed decree that each man must spend at least on day in the week training to fight with a spear, both as a group and individually but other than that things have maintained the status quo in Povis.

Personality: He is rude and belittling to most foreign lords, peasants and trader with soldiers and hunters being the only people he treats with respect before knowing them better. He lacks the manners generally expected of a man of his birth and rank, he does not however act rashly or underestimate an opponent, knowing that even a wounded boar can still kill a man.

Up for love: Always willing to take mistress but is already married.
Other: Usually wears some kind of armour at all times, be it a gambeson or full plate. He carries a sword but prefers to fight with a short spear and javelins. He wears a manticore skull strapped to his left shoulder.

Name: Duke Hamish Ogilvie of Brightwater

Age: 51

Gender: Male

Social Status: Duke

Affiliation: Vagria

Appearance: Old, grey and plump, Hamish still has a twinkle in his eye. He may not look it, but he's still deadly fast with his walking stick.

History: Became Duke at the age of 18, what with his father dying when he was a child. His first act as Duke was to execute the corrupt Regent who had been making life a misery for the serfs. This, along with his numerous public projects have led to him being a well loved and respected leader. However, he knows better than most that the peasants need to be kept in their place for their own good if nothing else and isn’t averse to taking harsh measures, like when he slaughtered a village for harbouring bandits repeatedly. Has successfully defended the Capital of Brightwater, Clearstreams, from invading armies for decades, unlike his forefathers.

Personality: Stubborn, suspicious (almost to the extent of paranoia) and stern. He’s considered as a father figure by most, but one who is a shrewd military leader. His only real weakness is good food.

Up for love: No, he’s happily married to Anne Ogilvie, Duchess of Brightwater
Other: Very handy with his cane, be it beating an insubordinate subject or disarming a would be assassin.