Winter, A Highhill Puppy arrives, following Kiera.

Q-bert an Albino Possum arrives, following Shyanne.

Eddard has forgotten a top, no shirt no flannel no doublet and no waistcoat. Because its hot and manly men doing manly things do them shirtless. Except...thats a lot of obstacles and there are too many people watching and this can only end poorly.

Standing off to the side, Isabeau is directing a few Telmarine servants to finish laying out an assortment of charcuterie boards, cut fruits and vegetables for nibbling. Various forms of alcohol are available, as well as a selection of cold juices, teas, and even milk. For... obvious reasons. The duchess is glittering in black and diamonds, looking like she will probably not be participating. A warm, seraphic smile from the petite blond as she greets various people who show. She offers Eddard a gentle dip of her head in greeting, and Aella a warm smile, "Countess, lovely to see you." Another smile is given to Tesha, "My Lady, it's been so long, I'm so happy to see you."

Isabeau takes time to greet everyone arriving with a kind word and a dip of her head, extending the same to Raimon, Cirroch, and Drake. At some point she gives up and steps more to the field with a more general greeting, "Welcome, welcome everyone to the Gauntlet! As you can see, if you haven't been here before, it's an obstacle course that is most grueling. But before we start, there is food and drink so help yourselves." She offers a gesture of her hand and speaks warmly in her rich contralto voice.

Drake has a shirt on when he arrives, but, removes it when he gets to the gauntlet, as he usually does in these things. It's hot weather for leather pants, but he's wearing them nonetheless. "It's been a while since I gave this a shot," he says, looking around for new and familiar faces both.

Shyanne moves into the arena, she looks about the obstacles and she smiles gingerly, she looks about and she blushes, the little chubby woman wants to see just how far she can make it. Slowly she moves into the gauntlet and as the men begin to remove their shirts she looks a little unsure, "Hey if you can show your tits, I can too!" calls the eswynd.

Coda, the canine war college dropout arrives, following Caprice.

Malcolm shows up completely dressed - because he forgot what his role was. He accepts a glass - two, perhaps - of iced tea and steps over in the direction of Duchess Isabeau Telmar to serve as her shadow. Also, to ask, because he's unclear: "My lady, you're looking very sparkly. Real sparkly. Would you care for iced tea - and an escort? Or - ah - another participant for the Gauntlet?"

Tesha's dressed in the traditional Crimson of House Telmar. She's made her passing hellos, a quiet one given in return to Isabeau's saying that she's happy to see her. She wasn't really a social butterfly and well, she'd been a bit more reclusive since her brother died and other things had happened. "It's good to see people out and having a good time." she mentions to Isabeau. Then she's heading off to find a seat under a shaded spot given she's not wanting to burn in the heat. Atramentous and Cale are with her, given they don't really do well being pinned up in the tower.

Drake glances over at Shyanne. He manages a deadpan. "Not going to stop you. Just be careful with it lest you put an eye out." He'll do his best not to stare if this comes to pass, but, it is Drake we're talking about.

Cirroch strides out upon the gauntlet's grounds, a broad grin upon his face as he rolls his shoulders, both flexing and stretching. He's dressed from the waist down, remembering boots for this run and padding to his shins, as no one wishes to see the hurdles be flung again. Bare chested save for the various necklaces draping around his neck. He eyes the gauntlet while taking a few extra moments to stretch. Nodding to Shyanne, Drake, and Raimon.

Aella snags a bottle of whiskey as she heads toward Isabeau, grinning wide at the duchess. "Fine looking challenge you have here. I keep hearing about it, may as well try." She lifts the bottle to the more refined woman, then gives her outfit a look over. "Not joining us, I take it?" There's a wink before the countess turns to greet Malcolm. "Duke! Share this with me." Then a wave is given to Cirroch.

"Are you offering me whiskey,

Kiera walks in with a huge smale ready to cheer on family and friends who will compete, grabbing some juice and fruit slices and looking for a shady place to stand. she makes her way over to to tesha

Raimon hangs out in the shade of the tents as he surveys the obstacles in the field . . . all the while stocking up on water and fruit juice. (( Hydration! )) Priority given, at the current moment, to beverages both non-alcoholic and -cool-. Being from the South, Raimon is perhaps not -as- affected by the heat as he might otherwise be. And yet, it's . . . pretty hot. So why go stand in it, until the event begins? For sure. Being Fidante by birth, there are significant bits of him that cry out for wine. 'Later' Raimon tells those bits. Raimon spends his time chatting with unfamiliar onlookers until 'it's time Raimon returns Cirroch's nod, with a grin, and makes his introductions to Eddard.

Caprice is dressed for the weather which means, depending on one's moral compass, potentially underdressed. The four-legged beast accompanying her is possibly only behaving because it's too warm to tear around dragging an unprepared not-very-muscly woman around the grounds. As it appears there is still a bit of time for mingling before things get underway, she surveys those already here - a curious eye towards potential contestants as she makes her way to greet the hostess.

Isabeau smiles at Malcolm demurely, accepting the tea as she crinkles her nose at her patron, "Why thank you, my Lord patron. Would you like to run the Gauntlet?" She looks around at the gathering and milling crowd, cautioning a few people, "Don't eat anything too heavy if you are participating. Trust me." She chuckles a little softly, and gestures to the obstacles, calling out, "Who plans on participating?"

Shyanne dose pull off her leather corset to reviel her small clothes. Hey if the men are undressing so can she! She was not fully unclothed so there was that.. Her eyes look over to Isabeau and she raises her hand "I do!"

"Malcolm's apparently quite shocked by the offer, then, with a hand pressed to his chest - he nods, pretending to be touched and somber with deeply instilled gratitude. "I will, Countess Aella, thank you for the invitation." He drinks down a good portion of his iced tea in a single long, brain-numbing swallow - and his eyes cross slightly. "Mmf. Aye, Duchess, if you'd like to share a drink with Countess Aella --" he offers the crook of his arm toward Isabeau, politely. "No. Ran it a week ago. Those high hurdles always do me in."

Malcolm has joined the East Spectator Seating.

"I'm in," says Drake, and makes a motion of dusting off his hands.

Eddard is milling in place, back and forth and doing stretches that he spots someone else doing. This Clement Lord isn't the most militant or athletic of the bench. "Prince Raimon. I'm Lord Eddard Clement." Since Raimon will be just before or just after him in the list to go. At Duchess Isabeau's call, Eddards hand lifts up and waves towards the woman. This one here too!

Cirroch's hands rest above his head as he continues to stretch, turning to Isabeau's call. "I'll be running today."

Raimon raises his hand, and heads on over toward Isabeau as 'volunteers' are called for. Time to find out if all the hard work he's put in training to rehab from the shipwreck is working. Raimon is not particularly -looking forward- to The Gauntlet. In fact, his face looks vaguely worried. It's just one more step along the process. "A pleasure to meet you, Lord Clement!" Raimon

1 Clement trained guards, Alphonse, Maggie, an energetic Mistward Labrador arrive, following Adalyn.

Tesha gives a dip of her head to Kiera when she approaches where she is settled with her dogs. There is a smile to Winter, "You're looking well and not so little anymore." she grins. "I hope that you are doing well." she states to Kiera. Atramentous and Cale give chuffs of greeting to the other highhill hound and then settle back down.

Aella takes a long swig of the whiskey and hands the bottle to Malcolm. "Aye, here, hold this while I go make a fool of myself." She gives the duke a stern look. "By 'hold' I mean 'drink,' to be clear." She laughs loudly and claps a hand to his shoulder before moving to talk to Cirroch quietly.

With the summer's heat, Adalyn Clement has traded her leathers for simpler garb: a casual blouse and silk trousers. Hurried strides carry her forward into the training area, her bright-eyed gaze sweeping the surroundings as if to ascertain whether or not she's too late to either join or witness the beginning of the action.

Eddard is overheard praising Tesha: Telmar Gauntlet!

Having called for participants for the Gauntlet, Isabeau steers Malcolm with her as she sips at her iced tea, offering a quiet word aside to Malcolm and a nod of her head to the tables of drinks, "There is some scotch, and mead, and other things." She says, sotto voce before she calls out, "Any other participants? To avoid too much crowding, we'll be going in small groups, and for an added challenge, the best from a group will get to do it again with the best from the others, and the overall winner will get a prize." Isabeau sips at her drink and gestures with her hand, waving to Adalyn, "Lady Clement! Will you be running?"

Cirroch pats at the gloves on his hands then rests them upon his hips, looking to Aella, then erupting in laughter to something said. A nod with his grin to her.

Adalyn flashes a cheery smile toward the hostess, hand lifted into a wave of greeting. The question is met with an eager bow of her head in affirmation. "If I'm not too late, I'd love to!"

"You have me counted, aye?" Aella calls out to Isabeau while she does some warm-ups next to Cirroch. Whatever he said in response to her draws a smirk. "Best luck to us both, then."

Kiera nods to Tesha "I'm well enough Lady Tesha. I hope you are as well" She fans herself with the hand not holding her joice. Surely it's the heat and the fact she's wearing leathers and not the proponderance of shirtless males in view

Tesha gives a smile after Raimon has finished his talking to herself and Kiera, "We'll hope that it all goes alright." she tells the Thraxian prince. She then settles down into a seat to try to stave off some of the stress of the heat. She gives a smile to Kiera, "Aye, I've been alright." she tells her. "How is the new Countess settling into Highhill?" she asks.

"A'course, my lady, and you'll return safely to a half-bottle - best of luck to you Countess, or, best of luck to the Gauntlet!" Malcolm laughs, "Yeah, that sounds about right. The Gauntlet's not prepared for any of them," Malcolm asides toward Isabeau, toasting the Duchess with both bottle and glass - then, to Tesha. "Thank you Duchess, for hosting and for the grace of Valardin by way of the Red Wall hospitality --" he rumbles in pleasant tones. "Thank you, Lady Telmar, for the hospitality of Telmar."

"We've got Marquis Cirroch, Countess Aella, Lady Adalyn, Lord Eddard, Count Drake, Lady Shyanne, Prince Raimon annnn --"

Isabeau smiles aside at Malcolm and gives a little nod, projecting her rich, warm voice to call forward the first group, "Lady Shyanne, Count Drake, Lady Adalyn, and.... Prince Raimon! You'll be our first group, please!" She beams a smile and gestures to the course, "Please get ready!"

Raimon, having made his introductions and thence paid his respects, joins the 'victim' line in between Eddard and Cirroch. Or thereabouts. He's not that particular, if someone else prefers a spot! Raimon thence takes three or four deep, wholesale, and cleansing breaths to charge his lungs for the agony to come. Bowing his head, and in a voice audible to perhaps a few that stand close - by, Raimon offers a quick Prayer to Mangata, Blessed-Be the Breath of her Name! And then it begins!

Raimon checked strength at difficulty 15, rolling 2 lower.

Shyanne checked strength at difficulty 15, rolling 18 higher.

Drake checked strength at difficulty 15, rolling 7 lower.

Adalyn checked strength at difficulty 15, rolling 5 higher.

Tesha gives a dip of her head to Malcolm's statement of thanks, "We're always happy to have visitors to the gauntlet, Duke Shepherd and the Duchess has done all the work for this." she tells him. Then she quiets back down and sips at the juice that Cora had brought her while she wasn't looking.

Not being called in the first group to run the gauntlet, Cirroch takes a seat upon the grounds, crossing his legs under the long skirt and placing palms upon knees. His back is straight, head high as he watches the first group take to the run. Calling out loudly for the first runners, cheering them all on. "You've got this! Put your all in and we'll drink later!"

Drake usually does well at this event, but today, out of the gate, he has a bit of a rough start. Out of the gate, he falters on the single bar, and has to drop and walk a few paces. He rolls his right wrist and curses under his breath. "Get the next one right."

"A half-bottle?" There's a pause as Aella considers Malcolm's words. "Good. We'll celebrate my victory or bemoan my failure with it." She grins at him before watching the first group take to the gauntlet. "If I die, you all heard me: Rosalind is my heir."

Kiera nods "She's hit the ground running. Already planning for a martial trainining center and medical facility for high hill. the elevation to countess was a surprise i think, but she's handling it with grace and well suited to it, i believe. She gives a soft oof as drake falters

Shyanne gets out into the gauntlet and she seems to do well enough, she gets into a good launch over the single bar.. "dont leave the house to Rosalid!" she teases Aella as she starts on the run to push herself over the bar

Raimon *nods* once, silently, as he internally evaluates his recovery from the malnutrition of being lost at Sea for quite some time. Aye, his Strength is not quite back yet. That's OK! Where exactly you happen to be is always of less import than the -direction- you're heading. On to the next bit! Keep moving forward! Lowering his head, and making sure to Keep Breathing, Raimon takes his (third) place and forges ahead!

Adalyn bounces on the balls of her feet, rolling her shoulders in preparation for the beginning of the event. When the signal is given to begin, she launches herself into movement, approaching the first challenge with pure determination. It's not her best showing of strength, but she manages to make her way through the event without incident.

"Count Drake can't seem to get a grip on the first bar, must have sweaty palms. Everyone does tend to get them with so many shirtless Lords about, so who can blame him!" Isabeau offers an animated commentary to the spectators of the event, her cobalt blue eyes dancing with high amusement as she watches the happenings in the obstacle course. "Lady Shyanne pulls ahead, with Lady Adalyn close behind, and Prince Raimon behind that!"

Adalyn checked dexterity at difficulty 15, rolling 21 higher.

Drake checked dexterity at difficulty 15, rolling 15 higher.

Raimon checked dexterity at difficulty 15, rolling 26 higher.

Tesha gives a soft nod to Kiera, "That is good that she is settling in well. And I am glad that she and Count Drake were elevated. Lord Richard has other paths in life and I'm sure he'll do just as well in those." she admits. Then Drake and others are faltering and there's a wince, "Ouch, but as my Uncle Arn used to say...that'll build character." she states. There is a look given towards where Eddard is to see if he's going to have a rough time.

Malcolm stifles a laugh into his iced tea, "Either it builds character - or it makes a great story to share with friends."

That's totally the problem, really, Drake figures. He didn't wear his gloves this time. That's what he usually uses to help his grip. But he does better at the hurdles, getting a good run and jump and starting to catch up a bit with the pack. But he's already a bit behind the frontrunners.

Shyanne checked dexterity at difficulty 15, rolling 2 higher.

Having made his way to the gauntlet, Breccan found himself a participant by being dragged over by a few of his house-mates. He is currently wearing a pair of loose fitted pants with his shirt wrappeda bout his waist. He waits his turn for the moment, watching with wide eyes.

Shyanne is following the others a lead a bit ago slips, and she ends up finishing last. She did still finish though as she hurdles over the second pair of obsticals. She runs, her heavy weight has her body moving in all sorts of ways - and she breaks a sweat as she tries to keep up!

Caprice hasn't yet found a place to settle in as the competition gets underway. It's just as well, alas, as it seems work has found her - intruding politely in the form of a messenger who spends more time ogling the competitors than delivering a message to her. Caprice looks very understanding. She, the messenger and the beastly fido discreetly depart.

Coda, the canine war college dropout leaves, following Caprice.

Hurdles, not so bad right? Judging by the look on Adalyn's face, she's likely envisioning the obstacles as some grand adventurous challenge to be bested. She focuses on jumping high enough to clear each hurdle, ensuring that her feet don't catch upon them and trip her up -- probably a lesson learned from past experiences.

Raimon, having -no- past experience to draw on, just looks straight ahead, not even looking at hurdles. He just trusts his feet to 'do their thing' . . . quite possibly a faceplate or two might make him more reticent. But Ignorance is Bliss as they say

Isabeau grins aside at Malcolm, into her own tea, shaking her head slightly, "So I can tell a story about your splits, my Lord?" She teases as she watches the second obstacle, "Lady Adalyn pulls ahead! Followed by Prince Raimon and Lady Shyanne! Count Drake could still catch up with a bit of luck." To Raimon, she calls out specifically, "You jump as well as Blackram goats, your Highness!"

Raimon checked strength + athletics at difficulty 20, rolling 27 higher.

Adalyn checked strength + athletics at difficulty 20, rolling 17 higher.

Shyanne checked strength + athletics at difficulty 20, rolling 16 higher.

Drake checked strength + athletics at difficulty 20, rolling 54 higher.

Cirroch leans back, arms bent behind him in support. Raising a cupped hand to his mouth as he calls out, "You're doing better than I did previously! Sent the hurdles flying and turned a spar into shield practice!"

Drake feels a bit heartened by the notion that he could catch up, were he lucky enough. Though he's not generally a lucky person, so he'll rely a bit on grit, instead. Some people have trouble with the Wall, so he takes it seriously, and this time, remembers he's using a bare-handed grip.

Shyanne is trying to keep up! she falls slightly behind now - Last but so far she has not fallen on her arse so that is something for her body type. She moves and she climbs up the wall carefully placing each foot.

Adalyn takes a moment to eye the wall, but if she feels any sense of trepidation, it doesn't show. Features set in a look of focused determination, she begins making her way up and over, but here she begins to lose some of the early lead she had established, not as fast or capable as her competition.

Raimon views The Wall much as one might the hull of a ship. Since that's the closest thing in his experience. He does 'ok' with this metaphor, though not nearly so well as Drake does! Wow!

Aye, you absolutely should share the story of my ill-advised splits at Countess Aella's last shindig. That made me real damn sore for what seemed like for --" Malcolm pauses before he draws out the thought, rendering himself silent. Then, correcting himself: "At least two days, my lady Isabeau." He takes a sip of his tea, then, at the opened bottle of Northlands whiskey.

If Isabeau was impressed by the ease with which Raimon approached the hurdles, her eyebrows shoot up and she seems moreso with Drake's performance on the wall. "A little luck seems to have found our Count, did he just practically leap the wall?" Isabeau laughs softly. "We have Count Drake, trailed by Prince Raimon and followed by Lady Adalyn! Lady Shyanne has lost much of her early lead. Tut tut. But we're only partway through and it only gets harder!" She calls out in her rich voice, seemingly amused by commentating on the course like she is some sort of announcer.

Raimon checked dexterity + athletics at difficulty 20, rolling 21 higher.

Shyanne checked dexterity + athletics at difficulty 20, rolling 18 higher.

Adalyn checked dexterity + athletics at difficulty 20, rolling 22 higher.

Kiera hollers out "take that wall" as her brother sails over

Drake checked dexterity + athletics at difficulty 20, rolling 28 higher.

Aella turns her head away from the gauntlet to look at Malcolm. "There were no such ill-advised actions by anyone at any shindig hosted by me." Both her eyebrows raise conspiratorially. "Oh, you said to share the story. Aye, then." She makes a gesture at Isabeau. "Lay the duke's shame bare, my lady."

Drake just has to stay at pace now, so he does, getting to the next set of bars with more finesse than he has in the past. Now he's focused on the task at hand, though... he still isn't used to 'Count'. He doesn't let that slow him down.

Sir Struttington, Esquire Messenger Peacock arrives, delivering a message to Malcolm before departing.

Raimon settles on in to the 'middle of the pack' . . . which is, to his mind, perfectly fine.

Tesha seems to watch things quietly and not commenting much. If people wanted to invest in a life size porcelain doll she might be a good one to invest in. There's a nod to her inner commentary as she watches things. She reaches out to pat Atramentous as he settles his head in her lap, "I know darling." she murmurs.

"Mm, share that - and then you'll need to bother me for the story of Dame Morrighan's birthday, five years past, and my first introduction to Northern whiskey." Malcolm regrets it the instant he says in - especially in mixed (some are even polite) company. "Actually, nah. Don't do that. I was hungover for a whole entire week. Good fire, that." Then - wait, pardon - he needs to take a messenger. He's aware of the timing, his face ruddy as he moves to do so -- and he grins at the package!

Reaching the double bars, Adalyn seems to be maintaining her endurance, but so too do the other participants. "Gods, he's fast," she mutters of Drake, briefly distracted as she watches how deftly he manages the course.

Seems to be highly engaged in the events on the field, not beginning on her tale of Malcolm's infamous splits yet as she comments, "Count Drake flies ahead. After such a dismal beginning, he seems to have hit his stride and is proving to be quite good!" She watches as Drake manages to outstrip the others, "But will it hold!"

Adalyn checked stamina at difficulty 20, rolling 15 higher. Adalyn rolled a critical!

Adalyn checked dexterity at difficulty 25, rolling 0 higher.

Drake checked stamina at difficulty 20, rolling 2 higher.

Drake checked dexterity at difficulty 25, rolling 7 higher.

Raimon checked dexterity at difficulty 25, rolling 4 lower.

Kiera hms as she watches turning to Tesha "They're going to make it close. Adalyn is fierce" she hollers to raimon "hang in there your highness. Don't let them run away with it"

Shyanne checked stamina at difficulty 20, rolling 13 higher.

Raimon -does- seem to be 'letting them run away with it' . . . but, all the same, he's doing his best!

Shyanne checked dexterity at difficulty 25, rolling 0 higher.

Raimon checked stamina at difficulty 20, rolling 2 higher.

Drake is thinking less about the race now, and more about just his own best pace. He keeps on moving, trying to make up for time he lost at the start of the course. Fortunately he at least keeps his stride and doesn't trip, getting through the final obstacle... the dreaded rope, and climbing it at a steady pace.

Drake is thinking less about the race now, and more about just his own best pace. He keeps on moving, trying to make up for time he lost at the start of the course. Fortunately he at least keeps his stride and doesn't trip, getting up over the hurdles. He's moving toward the final obstacle... the dreaded rope, at a steady pace.

Adalyn surges ahead at the v-logs, adrenaline pushing her forward. She doesn't think to pace herself, however, as she seems to have expended all her energy in this second to last obstacle. By the time she arrives to the high hurdles, she is clearly struggling to clear them, her time slowing substantially.

Shyanne gets to the rope, she was actually quite proud of herself for making it through, even though she was running last she tackles this obsticale with the grace of a cat.. she looks determined as she attempts to climb all the way up pushing herself with every stride

"Count Drake maintains his lead with Lady Adalyn following behind. Lady Shyanne and Prince Raimon fall behind, but it is still too close to call! Only the rope remains between them and victory! Who wants it most?" Isabeau calls out, enthusiasm in her warm voice, lifting her tea cup to her lips to casually sip its iced contents, at odds with her enthusiastic comments about the proceedings.

Shyanne checked stamina at difficulty 25, rolling 20 higher. Shyanne rolled a critical!

Raimon checked stamina at difficulty 25, rolling 15 higher.

Adalyn checked stamina at difficulty 25, rolling 1 higher.

Drake checked stamina at difficulty 25, rolling 8 lower.

Drake gets to the rope, but it is the most dreaded obstacle of all. Though he's in the front when he reaches it, he starts to lag a bit behind, as the climbing proves more difficult after all. He definitely has to remember his gloves next time. It seems like a very close race, but maybe the tide turns at the end!

Adalyn's note to self: pace yourself next time. By the time she makes it to the rope, she is breathing hard and her muscles are fatigued. It's only through sheer grit and determination that she manages to make the climb, but it's a struggle and she makes slow progress whilst attempting it.

Drake is overheard praising Isabeau.

Raimon finishes the course, 'Just Breathes' for a while, and then stops to congratulate everyone for the particular event(s) in which they did the best!

Breccan gives a round of applause for the challengers with a broad grin on his face.

Shyanne is determined to make the climb, she keeps at it pulling her large form up and over as she reaches the top! the short plump woman seems to have had it in her all along, pulling and panting as she gets herself over to the top. Only to rest ... surprised. Breathing a bit "my arms feel like jello" she huffs

With a gesture of her glass, tipping it up to the contestants as she smiles, Isabeau calls out, "Excellent run! Ladies Shyanne and Adalyn show us that endurance and determination win the race over flair and using all our energy to leap over hurdles and walls! Better luck next time, your Highness. You really nearly had it, Count Drake! Next group please!"

Raimon heads on over to Breccan and whispers to him for a small length of time. Advice / encouragement.

Drake is overheard praising Shyanne.

Drake is overheard praising Adalyn.

Drake is overheard praising Raimon.

Drake shakes his head a bit, but he's laughing good-naturedly as he retreats to the stand. "I'll get it next time. That rope can be a tough customer." But there's ale, right? Surely there's ale at least to make the defeat go down easier.

Drake has joined the East Spectator Seating.

Isabeau has joined the East Spectator Seating.

Tesha is overheard praising Isabeau.

Aella applauds the first group and then shakes out her arms and legs. "Ready to make an attempt." She glances at Cirroch. "Best we can do, aye?"

Kiera winces as drake struggles on the rope "That darn thing has it out for the wyvernhearts" she says

Cirroch stands up and gives a final stretch, calling out to the first group, "Well done!" Then looking over to Aella, "An attempt it shall be, any wagers on how many hurdles I send flying?"

Aella says, "Two."

Breccan gives a glance at Raimon and chuckles, leaning over to give him a firm pat on the shoulder. "Adalyn told me I was spending too much time in the garden and to get out and give a good showing. I doubt I will even make it all the way through."

Tesha gives a round of quiet applause when the first group is finishing. Then there's a look to Kiera and there's a bit of a sad smile, "Lord Seth and Lord Jasper of Steelhart ran the gauntlet a few times. I tried it once and just ended up knocking myself out and they were my saviors." she muses. "I miss them a lot. And their legacy lives on with Wyvernhearts." she nods to this.

When Adalyn reaches the end of the obstacle course, she leans over and rests her hands on her knees, sucking air into her lungs until she's managed to catch her breath. Despite having slowed down toward the last leg of the course, her early swiftness seemed to help and she appears pleased with the second place finish. "That was fun. Well done, all!" Straightening up, she moves off to the side to watch the next group, voice lifted to cheer loudly, "ALRIGHT, EDDARD AND BRECCAN! You've got this!"

Cirroch checked strength at difficulty 15, rolling 17 higher.

Aella checked strength at difficulty 15, rolling 0 higher.

Eddard checked strength at difficulty 15, rolling 3 lower.

Cufre weaves through the crowd, angling for an empty seat. Finding one, not a good one, mind, owing to her being quite late, she looks to those seated around her. "So, what is this?" she asks.

Raimon nods, once, after offering congrats to all of his fellow competitors. And then it's back over to Kiera (and Tesha), with, of course, a stop for cold tea on the way!

Malcolm has left the East Spectator Seating.

Breccan checked strength at difficulty 15, rolling 36 higher. Breccan rolled a critical!

Cirroch gives on last stretch, then squats down and looks along the line of the gauntlet. His head is tucked down as his lips move with something said silently. Then popping up with a couple of bounces which make the necklaces upon his chest dance with soft clattering as stone and bone collide. He's off at a pace, not a sprint, nor run taking his time with the single bar. One foot in front of the other, arms out to balance his movement across, getting to the other side with a light hop off and satisfied grin he looks to the next set... the dreaded hurdles.

Eddard did not get 'chosen' to go with the first round. Instead he was standing by the sidelines with growing amounts of dread on his face. Theres too many people around to make a good escape, even though his eyes flick about as if it were certainly upon his mind. The Clement Lord is kind enough to wait for others to hurtle past him before he goes tom ake his attempt at the single bar. To fling himself up onto the bar and....swing back and forth by his grip until he slips down to try again. Immediately at the back of the pack and unlikely to keep up.

With a shake of her head, Aella joins the others in her group at the start. She's off across the bar - /just/ across the bar. Maybe the whiskey beforehand wasn't the best idea. She tries to keep her momentum going, though.

"Hopefully Lord Eddard doesn't hurt himself running this." Tesha states with a bit of a worried look when the young man starts. Then she drops her head into her hands to hide the bit of a chuckle that escapes her before she composes herself and then looks back up to watch.

Adalyn settles into a seat, rubbing her sore shoulder. Hearing Cufre's remark, she glances sidelong toward the woman and shifts her weight, leaning forward as she gestures to the gauntlet. "The Telmar Gauntlet -- an obstacle course. Pretty tough one, too. Oh--kay. That's okay, EDDARD! JUST KEEP GOING!" Belatedly realizing that her /loud/ yelling may not be pleasant to her fellow spectator's ears, particularly seated so near, she flashes a quick grin of apology.

Once he takes his place with the others, Breccan takes in a deep breath, then nods towards Eddard. At least he is familiar with him. Once he finds his center, he moves when called upon, swiftly. As he hits the bar, he appears to make short work of it, moving fluidly over it with a quick jerk and haul.

Cufre would find a decent enough seat, getting sight of a group starting a run of an obstacle course, commented on by the Duchess of the Telmarch herself, Isabeau. The lively, romantically beautiful young blond calls out, "And they are off. Breccan takes a solid lead - are you sure you've never done this before? Bad luck Lord Eddard, you may surprise yourself!" The blue eyed woman calls out her encouragement. By this time, Isabeau is also negotiating a plate of cut fruit, brought over by one of her courtiers.

Aella checked dexterity at difficulty 15, rolling 4 lower.

Eddard checked dexterity at difficulty 15, rolling 3 lower.

Breccan checked dexterity at difficulty 15, rolling 6 lower.

Cirroch checked dexterity at difficulty 15, rolling 6 higher.

Kiera winces as eddard flounders "I hope he doesn't. Look at Breccan go" she says as he clears the bar

Aella kept her momentum, right into a tumble over the low hurdles. "Oof! Let it be known," The countess says as she stands and brushes herself off, "That a tumble over is /still/ getting over." She laughs to herself as she squares up for the next challenge.

Q-bert an Albino Possum have been dismissed.

Raimon agrees, with Kiera: "Really quite a remarkable start! I can assure you, that first test is not a trivial matter. At all." Raimon nods. Of course, the entire Gauntlet is fraught with peril. So we shall have to See what transpires!

Eddard is right behind Aella, but his tumble is far more graceful as his foot hooks and pulls. A shoulder flung forward and he manages to right himself onto his feet! What pizzazz! What grace! "If you say so!" Off to Aella at his left as a hand sweeps dirt from himself.

Once he lands the first bar, Breccan moves forward towards the hurdles. He may have got distracted by some of the voices calling out to him and thus he does not make such a good showing. He leaps over the first, stumbles on the second and third, looking much like an awkward duck trying to walk. As Cirroch catches up, he tries to focus and push himself harder.

Cirroch eyes the low hurdles and tucks in for embracing in the knowledge that they will most likely be sent flying. The first however he clears, then the next, and so on. He stops looking at where the next one is directly and lets his focus work on remembering to lift his legs completely. He doesn't look to have given everything a new slate, there's still the several directions that things can go sideways. As he clears the last he spots Breccan coming up along his side. He looks back to Aella, "Correct! And I sent them into the air last run! You're doing great!"

"Oh, Marquis Sanna is catching up! Shall steady determination win this round too?" Isabeau calls out, commenting on the action as Cirroch follows closely behind Breccan, "Keep trying Countess, my Lord. You'll get there and it's still early yet! Conserve your energy for the hard parts!"

Eddard checked strength + athletics at difficulty 20, rolling 9 lower.

In following Adalyn's yell to its target, Cufre misses the grin, but she glances back just long enough to give thanks and ask, "So what's the prize for the winner?" before turning her attention back to the competitors. Last minute or no, it turns out the seat leaves her with a view of nearly the whole of the course.

Cirroch checked strength + athletics at difficulty 20, rolling 20 higher.

Breccan checked strength + athletics at difficulty 20, rolling 14 lower.

Aella checked strength + athletics at difficulty 20, rolling 4 lower.

Drake, watching from the sidelines, thinks this may be a slightly rougher batch of competition than the first run, but at least the course was all warmed up for them. He claps a few times, just to cheer them on, then grabs his beer again.

Malcolm returns, somehow - the whiskey remains mostly full, and he favors more iced tea in this ridiculous heat. Sitting by, watching the second group boldly running the Gauntlet.

Once he hits the wall, Breccan struggles as he makes his way up it. He can feel the muscles burn in his arms and back as he hikes himself up. Through the process, whatever lead he built up quickly diminishes.

"I say so," Aella replies to Eddard with a wink before heading off to tumble through the next challenge. She's at least really good at tumbling.

The wall... There's a look of determination on Cirroch's face, his strides become longer, higher as he picks up speed, then leaping at the wall and pulling himself up to the top, taking a moment to sit upon the ledge and call out to those still climbing, "Come on! Use your full body, put some spit into it!" He offers a smile to each as they get up and over, only after everyone is up and over does he leap down from the ledge to head to the next obstacle.

Adalyn cups her hands around her mouth in an attempt to get her voice to project while she offers advice and cheers for Eddard and Breccan, support offered to her fellow Clement and Clement ally. Cufre's question gives her pause, her brow furrowed in consideration. Bright eyes flit toward the other woman, a faintly amused expression warming her features. "Now that I think about it, I have no idea what the prize might be -- if there even is one. Bragging rights possibly!"

Watching the gauntlet, and Cirroch handily handling every obstacle while the others struggle, Isabeau claps her hands together, "Marquis Cirroch pulls far ahead, practice makes perfect, after all!" She declines to comment on the failed completions of obstacles. The struggle is getting just a little sad. She smiles aside at Adalyn and says, "I'm going to have something made special for the winner. And bragging rights."

No bragging rights, no prize. Just...sweat, tears, and shame. Eddard reaches the wall and leaps pitifully upwards towards the lip of it and doesn't quite reach it the first, second or third times. "Spit?" That doesn't help AT ALL. Spit into both hands and he just slips from the lip again. Before spotting Breccan having trouble too. "CLEMENT!!!" Because, he knows the guy but he doesn't KNOW the guy. Shout your own name at someone, right? Spit covered hands get wiped down his pantlegs before his fingers enfold to offer up a firmer base for vaulting up the walls. Some of these folks aren't gonna make it by themselves....but teamwork is better right?

Aella checked dexterity + athletics at difficulty 20, rolling 14 higher.

Breccan checked dexterity + athletics at difficulty 20, rolling 11 lower.

Cirroch checked dexterity + athletics at difficulty 20, rolling 21 higher.

Eddard checked dexterity + athletics at difficulty 20, rolling 7 lower.

Malcolm cheers in the wake of the Clement war cry of - wait for it - Clement. "GO CLEMENT!"

Tesha gives a look over those that are running the course now and there's a nod of approval at something. She looks over to see how Kiera and Raimon are doing in their conversations before she takes a sip of her tea and goes back to watching the run quietly.

Her brief frown gives away Cufre's thoughts about the prize value of bragging rights, and the pause it gives enables her to catch the Duchess Isabeau's comment to Lady Adalyn. Hmm. Cufre rises from her seat andshe, too, cups her hands around her mouth. "Go, Eddard!!!"

Cirroch turns back to Eddard, "Not Clement. Sanna. Marquis Cirroch Sanna!" He waits for the man to get closer, then claps a large hand to the man's back. "One had in front of the other." His broad smile is encouraging and reassuring. He then takes to the obstacle crossing with ease, and waiting on the other side continuing to cheer his /competitors/ on in their journey through the gauntlet.

When he hears Eddard yell his house name, Breccan looks over quickly, then finds himself absolutely fumbling on the next part of the gauntlet. "What?!" He slides down a bar, then hikes himself up again. He struggles, badly, watching Cirroch's lead widen. Some men are built for obstacle courses and some are built for planting flowers. "Fffff." He hisses under his breath. ".. C'mon Brec."

Raimon nods politely to Tesha when she looks over. Raimon also regards the contestants, thinking: 'boy it is sure easier from up here!' to himself, with a small tilt of his head. True enough. That course is no joke!

Double bars? Aella looks uncertain, at first. "This were ship rigging, I'd be fine..." And that mutter seems to spark an idea - she pretends she's on a ship and makes her way through the obstacle with relative ease, even grace.

Isabeau's response earns a cheery grin from Adalyn. "That sounds nice. Honestly, it's just fun to be able to give it a try." When Cufre begins cheering for Eddard, the Clement heir turns to glance sidelong toward the other woman again, surprise registering in her expression. "You know Eddard? Good. He can use some extra moral support." Surprise swiftly fading to a pleased regard -- clearly approving of anyone who cheers for Clement -- she devotes full attention to the obstacle course once more. "C'MON, YOU GUYS. JUST HAUL YOURSELVES UP THERE ALREADY!" The more Eddard and Breccan struggle, the louder she seems to get. Gods help the ears of her fellow spectators.

Eddard manages to get over this poor wall somehow, with or without any help. Cirroch is apparently running back to encourage them before running forward again. This man is built for staying out of the sun and books. Not..whatever this is. Gaudy exuberance of physical abilities! It takes far too long for Eddard to accomplish the double-bars before he staggers to fling hands behind his head and straighten up to BREATHE. Gosh. Breathe.

Isabeau remarks quietly aside to Malcolm as she watches on, her eyebrows raised slightly, "It's almost less fun to comment and more fun to just... watch. When it goes like this. Which is about what it looks like when I do the Gauntlet. Did you know it's meant to be done in full armor?" She raises an eyebrow questioningly.

Aella checked stamina at difficulty 20, rolling 9 lower.

Cirroch checked stamina at difficulty 20, rolling 9 lower.

Cirroch checked dexterity at difficulty 25, rolling 7 lower.

Eddard checked stamina at difficulty 20, rolling 2 lower.

Aella checked dexterity at difficulty 25, rolling 6 lower.

Eddard checked dexterity at difficulty 25, rolling 19 lower.

"In full kit - like, ah, in leathers or in steel. Either way, my lady, nah - never did the full run fully suited up in armor." Malcolm mutters out the side of his mouth, "Lord Kennex had me running the damn thing near daily a long time ago --" a pause "-- and I still can't."

Breccan checked stamina at difficulty 25, rolling 16 lower.

One of those fellow spectators happens to be Cufre, clearly, but Adalyn's getting louder only seems to spur the new Team Clement fan to join her further. "KEEP IT UP!"

Breccan checked stamina at difficulty 20, rolling 8 lower.

Breccan checked dexterity at difficulty 25, rolling 20 lower.

"This is..." Aella huffs as she keeps stumbling through, the act of pretending she is on a ship no longer working at all. "Not to be done after whiskey." Two more obstacles - and a lot more bruises - down, though. "I'll need more whiskey to dull the aches."

Cirroch stares at the next two obstacles and takes at them. The V-logs, //what are these anyway?// are started with a stride and then he's running out of steam, a hand slips, he's still smiling. Hanging there by the other hand, trying to swing himself upright to the logs and instead launches himself into the ground below. Brushing himself off, and looking to the others, "We've got this! No different that climbing the mountains!" Then he goes at it again. Stills struggling, though making it through. Out of breath and looking at the High hurdles there's a glimmer in his eye, "We meet again..." Shaking his head and running at them. Like a death roller. There's no jumping, leaping, trying to go under the hurdles. No. Cirroch cuts a path right through the hurdles. The first few go flying every which direction, then he's smashing through them. He turns to the stands, "Duchess! Send me the bill!"

Cirroch checked stamina at difficulty 25, rolling 10 lower.

"The bottle awaits ye, Countess Aella --" and Malcolm loses his collective cool as he watches Cirroch charge into and through the hurdles, and he starts laughing.

"Or mead." Eddard pants beside Aella upon the floor before pushing himself back up again. "Mead at the Clement Cottage. Tally-ho! Charge! Have at thee! Oh gods, my stomach." A wrist sardonically plants itself over his brow and he rights himself to prepare for the hurdles....and duplicates Cirroch's actions with some of his own.

"This is what dying feels like." Breccan is wheezing out as he makes his way through the course, paifully. He barely gets through the V-Logs, and the high hurdles almost kills him on the spot. He can feel his legs burning. Sweat drips down his shirtless upperbody. At least Edddard has the right idea. "We will bathe in mead, because I don't know if I can lift a mug right now." He eyes the rope and lets out a whimper before moving towards it.

Breccan checked stamina at difficulty 25, rolling 16 lower.

Eddard checked stamina at difficulty 25, rolling 10 lower.

Aella checked stamina at difficulty 25, rolling 14 lower.

Rope? What Rope? Oh... This rope? Cirroch stands looking at the rope. Out of breath. He's still happily cheering everyone else on, "Time to go up! One hand over the other! I... I'm..." He stops to catch his breath, putting a hand upon the rope and pulling hard to lift himself up. Instead, the rope snaps and heads down to meet him as he lands back on the ground. Not a high fall, though with the rope upon the ground he looks at the torn end then starts to laugh. Turning with the rope in hand still, calling back to the stands with the rope held out for all to see, "And this!" He cheers the others for a moment before pointing towards a table with drinks on it, "I'll be over there! You've all done great!"

As Aella approaches the rope, she glances back at Eddard. "Is that an invitation?" With a hand on the rope, she tips her head back and looks up. Then she looks at Malcolm. "Ah, fuck this." A shrug, an almost apologetic smile in Isabeau's direction, and then the countess releases the rope and walks over to the stands and the awaiting whiskey bottle.

Adalyn stares with her mouth agape as hurdles go flying. "Okay, yeah, that's fine. Right. Just go through them, sure!" she calls, although her voice is pitched a little lower now as though she's run out of advice and is willing to just send hopeful vibes toward the participants.

"Definitely so." Eddard retorts to Aella as he turns to stagger towards the exit and the stairs and to whoever has water and other things for him. He'll stop a bit and hook an arm beneath Breccan's arm to help keep him hoisted if hte man allows it. They're all going the same place aren't they?

As he hauls himself up the rope, Breccan is feeling every muscle in his body burn. He forces himself up, inch by inch, painfully slow, and not even sure, or cares, what place he's in now. Once he reaches the top and he taps the flag, he lets out a heavy breath of exhaustion before he makes his way back down with a thud. When Eddard looks to assist him, he gives his housemate an apologetic gri, leaning into him. He's sweaty, he'll apologize later for it.

Malcolm wipes the tears of laughter from his eyes, struggling to catch hia breath between gruff bursts of laughter. "You've earned it, Aella," the Shepherd Duke calls out toward the Countess, shaking the bottle out in offering.

Mid-cheer when the rope breaks, Cufre's is among the inevitable mass gasp that follows. Wide-eyed, she takes in the...not rope climbing that follows before looking to Adalyn. "Is that it? It's over?"

Eddard is overheard praising Isabeau: Telmar Gauntlet!

Tesha gives a look up when Cora brings a message to her. There is a murmur of apologies to those around her before she has to head out quietly to see about what's being sent to her.

Cirroch has found the whiskey and has settled upon a partial sit on the edge of the table as he guzzles down /Sanna Sip/ the bottle. Wiping his chin, and pointing to the course with the bottle, liquid sloshing about. "It's a great course! Those hurdles really take it out of ya!"

Cale, the Highhill War Hound pup, Atramentous, The Highhill War Hound leave, following Tesha.

Breccan is overheard praising Isabeau: Did an amazing job running the contest of the gauntlet!

Cirroch is overheard praising Isabeau: apologies for the hurdles and rope

Kiera is overheard praising Isabeau.

Adalyn is overheard praising Isabeau.

Kiera is overheard praising Shyanne.

"Adalyn? /Adalyn/?" Because thats one of the people he knows are here. "Carry us home, to the mead and the food and the baths and the laying down. ADDAALLYYYNNNN?" Eddard calls out into the crowd.