(no subject)

[baloonworld]

First off apologies for those that I've forgotten the names of, that I've missed from the endless lists of names that are so vital for oolong's write ups, or that I've accused of being somewhere where they weren't. Corrections will be gratefully received and implemented.

oolong's source material is not subject to copyright, (and comes with a glossary)
http://www.gutenberg.org/files/1251/1251-h/1251-h.htm



(I) of a tournament that was held, that hight the Circus of Destiny

It so happed that at that time, there was a great tournament held, that hight the Circus of Destiny.
And to the tournament came many strong warriors, for to prove their worship.

Then there came from the city of waygate and these were all enfellowship long time Guard Katrin, that was a doughty warrior and strong to dure, and Tweek that was a right strong man of his hands, and with them were Sy, Tabitha, Coseon, Lamorriel, Sapwood, Bunny and Caled. These were all good warriors of the city of Waygate. In that fellowship was also Rebecca and Archibald, that were goodly enchanters.
Now leave we of these warriors, and let us speak of those that came from the Barony Van Heusen, for these were many good warriors, that were Brend, G'mord, Magma, Trakul, Blackwing and Archibald that was a goodly enchanter. This Blackwing was the same that had been enfellowship with the Baron Scarafold, afortimes it was known that he had such evil customs.

And so by adventure, oolong was ware of the tournament, and came nigh, and spake with the heralds, that he would venture his body to be forghten with these strong warriors, that he might win worship. Then gat him a good sword and strong shield, and goodly harness. And so many warriors were there, and pight there tents in the field, for to join the tournament.

Upon that day, they had taken there meat, there was herald to cry the open of the field and to let wit the order of the lists and nature of the combats. I aquit me well thereto sayth all the warriors and they were accorded to the rule, and so let the tournament begin.


(II) Of the first tournament, and how the warriors accorded them

To that goodly field came there out oolong, that was oft called oolong brûle, and there encountered with a warrior that hight Bladesinger Coseon and spake saying Guard theyself well, for I shall have ado with thee, and so they dressed them and fought them, but ever oolong held high his shield and pressed forward, till at the last Coseon might no longer stand, but fell grovelling.
And so there came a second warrior, that hight Warden Elvin and they fought and at the end oolong overthrew him, and then came Tweek, that fought with a great spear, and was a strong warrior and well harnessed, and they came together and fought them long time. And mark well that this Tweek was a strong warrior, that at the last oolong might not stand, but fell grovelling, but ever he held him up and lashed at his legs, that it was a marvel that he might dure, and then he fell.

[several encounters omitted due to the shortcomings of my memory]

Then stood forth Magma, who was an enchanter or else he has a warrior, but was still a strong man of his hands. So stood he and wove enchantments afore he joined the combat and these magics were such that when he was struck, no sword could stand it but must brast open; there was no other bote. And so he stood 'gainst many warriors.

Then came there a warrior that hight Brand, that was called one of the periloust warriors on life, and he carried many swords, and with them gave such sad strokes that as each brast open, they did Magma dreadful maims, so that in few stroks he might not stand but fell, stonied to the ground.

Rightso came a warrior that hight Blackwing, and it so happed that this Blackwing was an wer-wolf, so the whiles he forghten with Brend he was semblable unto a grimly wolf, othertimes he was like unto othermen. And these too warriors forghten them, and either gave the other sad strokes, rasing, tracing, foining and at the last Blackwing withdrew him, and so Brend encheived the victory.

At the last came there one from the Circus of Destiny and they fought and he fell, but then lightly he sprung up, and redoubled his strokes but ever Brend put him to the worse, and struck at him on the left and the right hand until he might stand no more, and so he fell, and by sudden enchantment, he sprung up yet again, and and struck such blows as it were a wonder to see, but ever Brend smote him and at the third fall he might not stir, but lay astonied, until the heralds tended his wounds.

And so Brend won the degree of that contest and much worship, for he was a full mighty warriour. And each warrior was given Besants for each victory that they encheived.

(III) Yet of the same tornment

Now speak we of other games, that were called the bull's eye and the arena and the trials of the witchunter. And in the bull's eye was great medley held, and each warrior that struck another down might advance centerwise. And so there was great medley and many warriors fell, and it so happed that by misadventure a warrior came upon oolong unware, and so struck him a great buffet, so that he fell to earth.

In the arena, those from the Circus of Destany stood for to be foughten with challengers, and so was oolong enfellowshiped with Blackwing and [NAME3] and long fought they, but the warriors of the Circus of Destany were wight and did wonderly, and so had the better part, and so they won little worship.

And the trials of the witchunter were so made in the semblant of a miscreature, and with them engine, that warriors might assay them, and face there enchantments. And this emprised oolong, and with him Katrin, that was a good warrior, and with them G'mord that was a passing good man of his hands, and passing strong to dure.
And so they encounted them with the miscreature, and oolong felt the dread on him, but he mastered him. And Katrin encounted with the next enchanment, and felt black dread on her, that she might not stir, and so by the mean of the fellowship she returned. Then anon G'mord encountered with the facsimile, and by its mean there was a great fear on him, and so G'mord rebuked himself, that it were no worship to be so afeared, and so encountered him. Then there was a fourth challenge, and when oolong came nigh it, there was great fear on him, so that he fled, and so he won no worship. And the Humact that hight Redfern rebuked them all: thou hast failed the challenges of the undead, for thou sent forth a warrior that might not match them.

(IV) Of adventures that befel them that night.

Now turn we to evening of the tournament. And many came thereto for to settle duals within the bounds of the field, and they fought them and so departed them. And also there many damosels and gentle warriors. It so happed that one was a damosel that hight Juno that had a paramour, that had given her goodly promise that he should attend on her there, but he did not come. Then by sudden adventure she was struck by mal enchantment, that dispair gripped her and she made great dole, and oolong was ware of the enchantment, that it was like unto that he had recountered in the trials of undeath, and so spake he with Redfern and with Nab, that was a goodly man, and Redfern searched for the cause and Nab broke the enchantment, that Juno wept no longer. But Redfern might not find the source. It so happed that he was then ware that there was one amungst that fellowship that was a miscreature that was semblable to a man, and so went about them. And so Redfern struck at him, and bore him to the ground grovelling, and so he saved many good people.

And then came there great laughter, fell and grimly and a voice that spake. And it said: The blood spilt in this tournament I shall take as my sacrifice, and with it do foul deeds. And then came many miscreatures from the forest, and fell upon the fellowship and so fought them long time. It so happed that some of that fellowship went unto the woods, for to sucour and aid any that were in the forest, for they were ware of the paramour of Juno, and many good men of the Circus that were in the forest.

And so posted they a strong guard and rested them.

Book 2

(I)Of the fellowship went forth, for to encounter with fiends

Anon in the morn, it was espyed that there were some of the Circus that were missing, and these were the wife of the ringmaster of the Circus of Destiny, and his daughter, and also the damosel Juno. And so many of the fellowship departed them, and strightways returned to the city that hight Waygate. But many remained, and would assay the adventure of the blood demons, and all these formed a great fellowship, and went forth to fight them. And in this fellowship were many warriours, as the book reherseth there were Sapwood, Brend, Helyanwe, Tinker, Rose, Tabitha, Archibald, Barel, oolong, Archer and with them were also, Redferne, Billie and G’mord and these were all proved warriors, or else mighty enchanters

(II) How they went forth

And on the morn that fellowship departed them and passed on away until they came to a great forest, and they travelled them aways in that forest, and there were many scoundrels and miscreatures in that forest, to let them the passage, and so they dressed them, and put them to the worse, and so travelled they on a ways. Then came they upon a great host of the creatures and with them were enchanters, and the fellowship fought with them long time, and in the end destroyed them and scattered them, but in that medly, Billie received such maims as he might not live, and he died. And ever oolong was in the forpart of the fellowship, and struck at the creatures, and so he encountered with an enchanter, that with his sorcery blinded him, so so took he to the back of the fellowship and rested him, others guided him until he recovered.

(III)How that fellowship encountered with a fiend and all his fellowship, and oolong rescued a damosel, and Brend slew the fiend, but it were greatly to his disworship

Right so they came unto a clearing, where there were three damosels prisoned, and a grimly fiend, and many of its servants, that were foul to look upon, and they fought them, and truck them to earth, and so slew them. But then there was an enchantment, that they might not pass, and behind it were many foul enchanters, and the grimlyest fiend, and ever the damosels made dole out of measure, that it were a pity to hear it. And when all those without the barrior had been slain, oolong passed unto a damosol, and spake Be thee of good cheer, for lo! here is a knife, that thou might free thyself, and privily through the barrier he passed it, but it fell awk, that she might not reach it. And one of the enchanters came nigh, and so withdrew him, and passed him to the next damosel and spake softly to her, and gat her a knife for to cut her bonds, but an enchanter was ware, and for to do him despite, this foul traitor did let the damosel's blud with that same knife, saying Dist thou give me this that I might slay her? For this aid I thank thee. And he spake these words for to do oolong disworship, and slew him two of the damosels. And this and orgulous boasts spake the enchanter.

Then suddenly were that fellowship ware that those they had foughten aforetimes held charms, and Brend took these in his hand, and smote on the barrier, so that it all to-shivered, and the fellowship came upon the enchanters a great raundon, and recountered with them, and slew them, and in this melee, oolong went to the damosel that yet liveth, and raced her bounds, and guarded her through the melee, and so rescued her. But ever in this melee went the great fiend and it were full mighty, and slew on the right hand and the left hand, and so sad were its blows that many a good warrior fell, and were like to have died. And so goodly its harness and so lightly it voided blows that there were few that could do it hurt.

Then Brend gat him a good sword, that was woven with magic. And wit thee well that this Brend had sworn that he should never use such a magic, for it was greatly to his disworship. So flang he at the fiend; there was none other boot but he was passing heavy that he were forsworn, and liefer had he been forhewn and hacked limb-meal, but this fiend was like destroy many people, and so for the love of that fellowship and to save many goodly warriors, and damosels, and free and goodly men, Brend gat him that sword, and put that miscreature to the worse, but when he slew him, he made such dole as he might die, for he had lost great worship.

Then rested them and dressed there wounds, and there was with them infellowship a damosel that hight Rose, that was a great leech, and so many lived that were like to have died.