The Parade



It was a cool morning in the town of Sabre Blanc the morning of the tournament. From miles away the massive wooden stands could be seen rising above the surrounding landscape. Bright banners, attached to the stands, fluttered in the early morning breeze.

A gigantic podium rose above even the town palisade, dwarfing the surrounding buildings with its immense size. A set of wooden gates situated at either end of the tilt allowed for the comings and goings of knights from the stables and pavilion camp.

Already, crowds from the surrounding villages had begun to arrive, the three story stands filling rapidly with peasants and travelers from as far away as Middenheim, all waving colored paper flags and wielding tankards of wine and ale imported from as far away as Bugman’s Brewery and Miragliano. By ten in the morning, entertainers had begun to fill the tilt field; brightly dressed jesters riding on single-wheeled devices while spinning plates on the ends of sticks. Town squares and warehouses all around the town were converted into makeshift markets to supply the immense number of people with food and drink.

At the stroke of noon on the town clock tower, trumpets began to blare, recalling all to the stadium for the parade of entrants. Four birdmen of Catrazza lept out of the crowd and swooped up into the air. Two landed in front of each oaken gate and swung it open with ease. Dozens of servants and squires marched out of each gate bearing the standards of their individual lords. The clothing of each individual was as unique as the heraldries which they bore. From the lowly sidekicks who ride besides the Knights Errant to the majestic elves, each bore with him the favor of the crowd. Then the knights rode out in full battle armour before the podium, wooing ladies blushing as gallant knights rode forth and stood up in their saddles.

Several knights rode forward towards the satin-draped stand and were granted the honour of tokens from many noble ladies of the lands. Many knights rode past Lady Jocelyne, the prize of the Tableaux de Batailles, and pledged their joust to her, but it was one singularly gallant Knight Errant, Armand de Lyonesse, who caught her eye. She ducked behind the shallow wooden wall and emerged again with a small lace girdle which she placed upon the tip of Armand’s lance.

As the knights brought their horses to trot around the tilt, the crowed roared their approval. It wasn’t until Baron Theduran Joliet, lord of Chateau Joliet himself stood and raised his hands above his head in a gesture for silence that the roar of applause died down. Two ladies in pale blue garb kneeled on either side of him and began to chant, the air around him crackling with magical energy.

His voice boomed across the field as he addressed the crowd, “People of the Free Lands!—hear me!” The crowd instantly fell into an enraptured hush, every man, woman and child’s eyes and ears focused on the lord dressed in crimson positioned below. “Just weeks ago our men returned from the north. There they did battle against the greatest foe to walk upon our lands in hundreds of years. Against demons, orcs and all the unnatural forces they could bring to bear we emerged victorious.” With these words he unsheathed his sword and raised it high into the air. “Now! All men who fought and bled besides me, my brothers, stand now with me. For it is in victory we stand and it is in victory which we shall live!” All across the stadium men stood up, drawing swords, daggers and pistols from belts and began to shout in unison until the whole of the stadium shook with the roar. Pistols and rifles discharged at random and the skies themselves seemed to feel the impact of the great shout. “Now we are gathered to celebrate our great victory.”

“LET THIS JOUST BEGIN!!!”


During the jovial celebrations of the grand Parade, the following Knights received Favours: