49

jousting


"Buddy you're a young man hard man
Shoutin' in the street gonna take on the world some day
You got blood on yo' face
You big disgrace
Wavin' your banner all over the place
Singin'

We will we will rock you
We will we will rock you"

Water Jousting: Sort of a cross between sculling and jousting. Ran on rivers with a team of oarsmen in a long, narrow rowboat in place of a warhorse. The water jouster, standing up near the bow of the boat, wielded a long pole and attempted to knock his opponent, who was similarly armored and positioned in the prow of an oncoming boat, over and into the water while avoiding being knocked over himself. Water Jousting also included passes at the quintain, a practice dummy that swung around when struck and which was designed to knock over any jouster who didn't get out of the way in time. Unlike real jousting, water jousts were usually held as part of civic festivals in the summer rather than as aristocratic entertainment. The participants in water jousting were young men from the sponsering towns rather than nobles practicing for war, and the most serious damage inflicted was usually a through soaking of the loser rather than any grievous wounds.

They're here. Some lean and mean. Some practically eating machines. I've never seen this many men gather. And there's no war.

I saw Axel eyeing them to when he wasn't too busy scavenging money off some kids in the alley playing knucklebones. He's a fantastic player. I'm not sure he'd be much good at something so silly as water jousting. Axel just snickers at their armor. So bulky and strange.

But they'll ride through the streets at daybreak when it begins. It'll be a long day of fun, food and drink. Its the beginning of the festival.

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