APAT Brighton: The Joust Is Decreed
“Between the years when the oceans drank Atlantis, and the rise of the Sons of Arius, there was an age undreamed of; when shining kingdoms lay spread across the world. Hither came Sir Paulie, red of hair, baggy-eyed, map in hand, a traveller, a sage, a player, with gigantic melancholies and gigantic mirth, to tread the streets of the Earth under his booted heel...”
“It is I, his chronicler, who knows well his saga. Now let me tell you of the days of high adventure…”
It was decreed that in the first month of the twelfth year of the third Christian millennium that a final great joust would be held to celebrate the fifth year of the reign of the High Emperor, Desmond “the Red” scion of the Great House of Duff.
The Emperor’s Grand Vizier, Lord Richard of Prew, did counsel his liege that his subjects would, of certes, rebel if the joust was held once more in the dark northern depths of his lands known as “The Black Country” and that he had received many an imprecation from his southern subjects to hold the joust in their environs.
So wise was the Emperor that he gave credence to the advice of his loyal and trusted vassal and thus a meeting place was found on the southern shores.
Notice of the joust was published across the Emperor’s domain. Only the bravest and brightest competitors were expected to attend. Nevertheless, word spread far and wide, being whispered in the dark corners of taprooms and secret gambling halls that anyone could enter could they but find the sum of 75 gold pieces.
Sir Paulie, our gallant hero, was well known to the Emperor and his Grand Vizier and was a frequent combatant in their regular jousting competitions. Indeed, he had travelled far and wide across the Emperor’s lands and was oft consulted on acceptable lodging and hostelries.
Sir Paulie was determined to make a good showing at this final event of the emperor’s jousting season and entered the lists with gladness in his heart.
It was of no great surprise that Sir Paulie wouldst throw his name into contention for the grand prize in this enterprise. It was well known that Sir Paulie was a mediocre jouster at best but was well enamoured of the entertainment in taprooms and dancing clubs that accompanied these events across the empire and was savouring the opportunity of another adventure in the company of other frequent combatants.
Sir Paulie’s coterie didst include Sir Gerard the Duke of Chester, Sir Phillip of Tompkyfish, Sir Stuart (Count of Wild Abandon) and the Lord Martyn and Lady Dawn of Jaxie and our hero was much dismayed at learning that so many of his friends would not be in attendance, perforce, by dint of duties elsewhere or other jousts at the same juncture but was glad that so many other of his acquaintance would be joining in the competition.
"...and thus I begin the tale of Sir Paulie and the Southern shores. I will have more on the morrow."
