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Post by Lord Elyas Dryland on Jun 19, 2014 12:43:43 GMT -5
The seat of House Vaith, and is located on the river sharing that name. To the west of the home of House Vaith lies the expansive Deep Sands of the Principality of Dorne. Beneath the walls of the castle there is a small town. Vaith is cuurently ruled by Lady Catelyn Vaith and her husband, Lord Elyas Dryland who is one of Dorne's three dragon-riders.
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Post by Lord Elyas Dryland on Jun 19, 2014 13:27:46 GMT -5
August, 98 AL
Lord Elyas Dryland sat in the shade of the training yard. He enjoyed practising under the midday sun, and having gone through his stances he now sat in the shaded side of the yard with his whetstone, running it over his blade. His blade was a sharp as it had been seventeen years ago thanks to his diligence. He still enjoyed his period of relaxation following his exercises, although now his mind was filled with thoughts his nineteen year old self could never have contemplated having.
There was some sweat upon his forehead as he meditatively ran the whetstone up and down his bastard blade, and his skin was flushed. Yet the Lord of Vaith could have quite easily continued to train for hours longer, keeping himself in excellent fitness in spite of his age.
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Post by Vhagar on Jun 19, 2014 13:48:59 GMT -5
"Elyas." His wife's voice hailed him across the yard. Catelyn was still as confident as she had ever been, but marriage and motherhood had softened her tone, at least with her husband. She still had a confident walk, though there was a little less swagger to it now. Her hair was loose today, falling around her shoulders in soft waves.
"Careful!" She cried, with a hint of laughter in her vioce. "You'll sharpen that thing into oblivion if you're not careful."
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Post by Lord Elyas Dryland on Jun 19, 2014 14:09:33 GMT -5
"Elyas." His wife's voice hailed him across the yard. Catelyn was still as confident as she had ever been, but marriage and motherhood had softened her tone, at least with her husband. She still had a confident walk, though there was a little less swagger to it now. Her hair was loose today, falling around her shoulders in soft waves. "Careful!" She cried, with a hint of laughter in her voice. "You'll sharpen that thing into oblivion if you're not careful." Hearing his wife's voice, Elyas smiled and looked up, turning to find her across the yard. He set the whetstone down and stood a faint smile still on his lips. "I am not overly worried, Catelyn." he said. "After all, a man with a dragon can have whatever he desires." he said as he approached her, echoing the words she had spoken to him twenty years earlier in his chambers. His eyes twinkled and his smile broadened as he sheathed his blade. |
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Post by Vhagar on Jun 19, 2014 14:19:29 GMT -5
"Even a new sword?" She teased. "No blade lasts forever, my love, and that is not Valyrian steel. I have never known any man to take such good care of his blade as you do. But you do take equally good care of our family." She smiled and came closer still. "Where is the beast?"
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Post by Lord Elyas Dryland on Jun 19, 2014 14:29:23 GMT -5
"Even a new sword?" She teased. "No blade lasts forever, my love, and that is not Valyrian steel. I have never known any man to take such good care of his blade as you do. But you do take equally good care of our family." She smiled and came closer still. "Where is the beast?" "I got you." Elyas grinned, inhaling her scent as she neared. "A new blade ought to be easy in comparison. Even one of Valyrian steel." "The beast is outside, as ever." He said by way of response, lowering his voice as she drew closer. No suitable cave had been found in the vicinity of Vaith to house the beast, so Ellarion was chained to the ground with a relatively lengthy collection of metal, about a fifteen minute ride downriver of the city. A lightly guarded stone structure had been errected to protect the dragon from sandstorms, but on most nights the beast was able to sleep beneath the stars, where it feasted on the cattle it was brought by servants of Vaith. Elyas made an effort to ride his mount daily when time allowed. |
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Post by Vhagar on Jun 19, 2014 14:45:57 GMT -5
"You got me because I let you," she said. "You know what I do to men who give me undesirable attention." Still grinning, she mimed kicking him in the balls.
Motherhood had not faded her looks and even now she found herself getting attention from other men when they were in Sunspear. Elyas knew well that Catelyn would make her feelings known, even if she had to resort to desperate measures. Once or twice she had actually had to use such methods.
"I always wonder about the dragons, whether they mind very much being chained. I could not bear it."
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Post by Lord Elyas Dryland on Jun 19, 2014 15:12:00 GMT -5
"You got me because I let you," she said. "You know what I do to men who give me undesirable attention." Still grinning, she mimed kicking him in the balls. Motherhood had not faded her looks and even now she found herself getting attention from other men when they were in Sunspear. Elyas knew well that Catelyn would make her feelings known, even if she had to resort to desperate measures. Once or twice she had actually had to use such methods. "I always wonder about the dragons, whether they mind very much being chained. I could not bear it." Elyas laughed at her words. "I wish you would let me deal with that manner of problem, Catelyn, but your methods are effective." When she spoke of the chaining of dragons, Elyas' face became more grim. "I am sure they hate it, but what else can we do? The last dragon allowed total freedom was the beast Vandaras. It took the lives of many good men to prevent it from causing further destruction. A difference of a few feet and I would not be here today. We cannot allow that to happen again. It is challenging enough to control Ellarion when I am with him." Elyas sighed, looking his wife in the eye. "Would you like to spar?" He asked her. "I can only do so much on my own, and you are always a challenge." |
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Post by Vhagar on Jun 19, 2014 15:21:12 GMT -5
"You know I like all kinds of sparring," she said mischievously. "I would be happy to. It won't do to be complacent, not even with each other. The Targaryens won't leave us alone forever, nor us them. Not after Yronwood." She lowered her voice. "Lady Visenya will not allow them to leave us alone, will she? She'll want her brats on the Iron Throne."
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Post by Lord Elyas Dryland on Jun 19, 2014 15:38:34 GMT -5
"You know I like all kinds of sparring," she said mischievously. "I would be happy to. It won't do to be complacent, not even with each other. The Targaryens won't leave us alone forever, nor us them. Not after Yronwood." She lowered her voice. "Lady Visenya will not allow them to leave us alone, will she? She'll want her brats on the Iron Throne." Catelyn's wry comment brought a smile back to her husband's face. He leaned in quickly and kissed her on the cheek, before stepping away with a chuckle. ""Hmm, yes, your guard has become rather complacent, dear." he commented in good humour. "Let us not worry about that bitch Visenya or her whorespawn daughter. It is far too pleasant a day to waste on them." |
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Post by Vhagar on Jun 19, 2014 15:56:52 GMT -5
"So it is. Let spar and then, if we're not too tired, find other ways to amuse ourselves. Though a swim in the river wouldn't come amiss, later." She pushed her hair back over her shoulder. "I think I got a better deal than Myriah, in the end."
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Post by Lord Elyas Dryland on Jun 19, 2014 16:36:07 GMT -5
"So it is. Let spar and then, if we're not too tired, find other ways to amuse ourselves. Though a swim in the river wouldn't come amiss, later." She pushed her hair back over her shoulder. "I think I got a better deal than Myriah, in the end." Elyas smiled, but his face fell as he spoke. "You are too kind, and Myriah was very unfortunate in the end. She lost everything. I am blessed that the plague did not take you as well. You are the only person alive who I trust completely, and you are deserving of my faith." Elyas spoke with conviction. "I do not know what I would be without you, but I would certainly be less happy." Elyas walked over to the training weapons and grabbed a dulled bastard blade for himself and a equally dull spear for his wife, tossing it to her across the yard. "I look forward to our swim afterwards, so long as you aren't too sore to take part." He called with a teasing smile, beginning to circle her. |
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Post by Vhagar on Jun 19, 2014 16:45:33 GMT -5
Catelyn smiled very sweetly. "Hardly. I'll duck you under the water before you'll know I'm even in the river." She held her spear before her, waiting, balanced lightly ready to dart in when she was ready. "Come one, Elyas, are you a knight or a chicken?" Her taunt was meant only teasingly; she had grown up in a castle where taunting one's opponent before a fight was normal.
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Post by Lord Elyas Dryland on Jun 19, 2014 16:53:34 GMT -5
Catelyn smiled very sweetly. "Hardly. I'll duck you under the water before you'll know I'm even in the river." She held her spear before her, waiting, balanced lightly ready to dart in when she was ready. "Come one, Elyas, are you a knight or a chicken?" Her taunt was meant only teasingly; she had grown up in a castle where taunting one's opponent before a fight was normal. "Well you certainly fancy yourself as being quick." Elyas grinned. "But how do you propose you'd get to me without my hearing you splashing through the water?" Elyas too had been raised in an environment of good natured banter, only having had to face numerous trueborn children older than himself, he fancied he had better mastered the art of the good natured taunt. He had also grown used to hearing one or two bad natured ones, so Catelyn was going to have to do better to rile him. "I am a knight, dear wife, which is why I haven't rushed at you yet like a headless fool." He took a step toward her but advanced no further. "What about you? Are you going to let it be said that I was the one who made every advance in this dance?" |
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Post by Vhagar on Jun 19, 2014 17:17:27 GMT -5
Her laughter rang out. "Oh, come, ser. It's the knight's duty to lead the dance. Every lady knows that. Do you wish me to be forward?"
She held her spear in front of her, flicking the point out to tease him.
"My spear tip wishes to kiss your flesh, ser knight. Will you refuse her?"
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Post by Lord Elyas Dryland on Jun 19, 2014 17:24:37 GMT -5
Her laughter rang out. "Oh, come, ser. It's the knight's duty to lead the dance. Every lady knows that. Do you wish me to be forward?" She held her spear in front of her, flicking the point out to tease him. "My spear tip wishes to kiss your flesh, ser knight. Will you refuse her?" "I am afraid I am loyal to a fairer lady, your spear waits in vain." Elyas grinned, gradually moving closer to her while keeping his guard up. |
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Post by Vhagar on Jun 19, 2014 17:48:59 GMT -5
Catelyn's smile vanished and she gripped her spear more firmly. Now at last she moved forward, her weapon snaking out as she attempted to strike Elyas on the shoulder. Her movements were graceful and determined.
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Post by Lord Elyas Dryland on Jun 19, 2014 17:57:02 GMT -5
Catelyn's smile vanished and she gripped her spear more firmly. Now at last she moved forward, her weapon snaking out as she attempted to strike Elyas on the shoulder. Her movements were graceful and determined. Elyas was able to react to her strike and parried it with two hands before attempting to push Catelyn's spear to the side which would leave her momentarily vulnerable. |
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Post by Vhagar on Jun 19, 2014 18:24:09 GMT -5
And so it did. Catelyn cursed in a most unladylike manner and barely managed to swing her body out of Elyas' reach in time to correct her stance. But Elyas saw that the closeness had almost been Catelyn's undoing.
"You'll have to try harder," she sang out, feigning nonchalance. She circled around, waiting.
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Post by Lord Elyas Dryland on Jun 20, 2014 1:20:44 GMT -5
And so it did. Catelyn cursed in a most unladylike manner and barely managed to swing her body out of Elyas' reach in time to correct her stance. But Elyas saw that the closeness had almost been Catelyn's undoing. "You'll have to try harder," she sang out, feigning nonchalance. She circled around, waiting. Knowing that distance between them would play into Catelyn's hands, Elyas closed the gap between the two quickly, hoping to use his superior strength in a setting where her reach and agility would be impaired. |
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Post by Vhagar on Jun 20, 2014 5:35:11 GMT -5
Catelyn was, however, quite accustomed to such tactics. She smiled at Elyas and held her spear across her body like a staff, ready to parry any attacks he should make. And then she waited for him to make his next move.
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Post by Lord Elyas Dryland on Jun 20, 2014 11:39:37 GMT -5
Catelyn was, however, quite accustomed to such tactics. She smiled at Elyas and held her spear across her body like a staff, ready to parry any attacks he should make. And then she waited for him to make his next move. Elyas didn't even attempt to attack around the spear. Instead he struck it with as much force as he was able to, testing if Catelyn was able to parry such an attack. |
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Post by Vhagar on Jun 20, 2014 13:16:44 GMT -5
He struck so hard the blow sent pain through both their hands. Catelyn cursed as he drove the spear out of her hand. It clattered to the ground as she barely avoided being tripped up.
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Post by Lord Elyas Dryland on Jun 20, 2014 13:19:16 GMT -5
He struck so hard the blow sent pain through both their hands. Catelyn cursed as he drove the spear out of her hand. It clattered to the ground as she barely avoided being tripped up. Elyas winced, but pressed his advantage, extending his blade toward Catelyn's chest before so could go for her fallen weapon. "Yield, my lady?" he asked, looking her in the eye. |
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Post by Vhagar on Jun 20, 2014 13:28:06 GMT -5
"I will," she said. "This time. Ready for our swim?"
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all alone and also really bored 
Hopefully going to kickstart the festival too