The Evil Eye - IC

[kinem]

dance with a miss

The two men back off, but draw their daggers. "You really don't want to do this: I'm from Falkovnia!" one warns.

A couple of other men in the crowd run off, perhaps hoping to find the city watch.

Gustav, however, turns his attention back to Dieter. With a lunge, he thrusts his blade towards the man, but misses.

The two men begin their dance - despite the uninvited guest - but they each miss.

ooc: Jiles to act

 

[HolyMan]

"No fairs I weren't readies!" Jiles cries at the two men fighting at his back as he turns to face them.

He takes a "drunken" step forward and as the crowd watches he looks like he is attempting to skewer one of the men. His sword moves right between the two and as he moves to draw it back he "accidentally" catches it on the cross guard of Gustav's blade.

"Eh? Let go! That's mine!" Jiles says with first a mock pull. He watches and as soon as the swordsman goes to unlock the blades he turns his sword and causes the blade to fall out of the mans hands. With another "drunken" step he kicks the blade away from the combatants.

"Hmm.. where'd yuir sword go? Youish can't fight wit out a sword ya know."

 

[kinem]

"That was no accident!" Gustav declares. "What are you up to? Why are you trying to prevent me from avenging the honor of two ladies and myself? I bet Dieter hired you - that coward is afraid to try to defend himself!"

"You're crazy!" Dieter retorts. He refrains from attacking Gustav with his own sword. In most lands Jiles knows of, honor would not permit a man to take advantage of interference in a duel.

The other two men remain on guard but wait to see what happens next.

The rest of the crowd looks on with a mixture of fascination, anger, and horror. Jiles now notices among them a shapely woman in a simple yet elegant dress near the front. Like many women at the carnival, she wears a veil across her face, hiding its lower half.

 

[HolyMan]

"Ok, ok. You got me." Jiles says standing a little straighter and raising one hand palm up to show he is ready for a pause in the melee.

"I'm sorry but I'm not from around here and thought I could help." he smiles and hopes the man takes it as friendliness. "Where I'm from two people with a dispute call on a third non-partial person to listen to both sides. They try and help resolve the problem without bloodshed. I thought though you wouldn;t listen to me unless I somehow got my foot in the door as it were. That's why the little drunken deception."

He looks a little sheepish as he adds, "I wish only to not cause any grief on what should be the ladies happiest of days." Then he makes a small bow to the lady he believes to be the bride.

 

[kinem]

"I see" Gustav replies. "Well, your help is misplaced here. On the morning of his own wedding to my dear sister, this man - Dieter - raped my girlfriend!"

He looks around as if for his girlfriend but doesn't seem to find her in the crowd.

"I am merely trying to avenge the honor of the victim, my sister and myself. Surely you will now let me proceed!"

"It's a lie!" Dieter exclaims.

The woman Jiles bows to shakes her head. Clearly he was mistaken; she is just an onlooker, although certainly an attractive one.

Jiles notices a sobbing woman in a white dress and realizes that she must be the bride.

There are several other women as well as men present too, naturally.

 

[HolyMan]

"Now, now Master Dieter. We need not shout." Jiles says warming to the crowd. "My name is Jiles Du'Lamir from... as I said I am from a far away place. I don't think my help would be misplaced if it were to get to the truth. What is to happen should you kill this man, widow your sister on her wedding day, and then come to find out you were mistaken?"

"Or to have every year on her anniversary be marred by the memory of the day her brother died. Please, allow me as a neutral party to get to the truth for you."

 

[kinem]

"I think not" Gustav replies. "Even if your intentions are honest to start with, how do I know you won't let him bribe you? And what qualifies you to 'get the truth'? And then, if you prove he's guilty, what do you propose - turning him in to the authorities? They would probably just give him a slap on the wrist, since his family has money.

On the other hand, killing the man vigilante style would bring harsh punishment - but a duel like this is different, it is tolerated.

No, Jiles. I have to do this. Now stand aside."

 

[HolyMan]

Sighing Jiles sheathes his blade and then turns to leave the area.

"Come on Raul," he says in disgust. "I'll not watch these idiots fight to the death over an accusation. I hope we find your people soon and I can go home."

 

[kinem]

As Jiles is walking away, the veiled woman he'd bowed to grabs his arm.

"What you tried to do was incredibly brave" she tells Jiles. "This bloodshed is so horrible! Your land must be a great place - where is it?"

Meanwhile, the fight begins in earnest. The woman clearly wants to watch it.

Gustav is the first to draw blood and stabs Dieter. Dieter knocks the blade out of Gustav's hand and grabs it. Then he stabs Gustav with it.

"It's poisoned!" Dieter accuses.

 

[HolyMan]

Jiles just shakes his head and gently removes the ladies hand.

"Not far enough from here," Jiles says with his back to her walking away.

The bard walks around the nearest corner, upset he could do nothing to stop the duel.