Post by Justin Thyme on Jan 24, 2017 16:41:30 GMT -5
There was once a land, far away, and many years ago, that had three kingdoms around a triangular lake. They often warred , and casualties were fierce.
So they agreed to hold a tournament of all their champions, on an island in the middle of the lake.
The first, being rich and influential, sent twenty Knights, and thirty squires, with many horses and wagons laden with food and wine.
The second, being well-off, sent ten knights and twenty squires, as well as several wagons of food and drink.
The last kingdom had only one knight, who was very aged and rather decrepit, and had but the one squire. They brought with them a single iron pot, and a horse with food enough for the journey.
The first evening, much revelry was had- wine was shared and spilled in equal measure, great haunches of meat were roasted and cut, and all are well.
The old knight counseled that there were rats on the island, and food should be moved off the ground, to avoid them spreading plague.
The Knights and squires of the first and second kingdoms disregarded his advice, saying "Pfah! What does he know? We are so many, no rats would dare bother us!"
But the squire of the third kingdom listened attentively to his old knight, and hauled their old iron pot on a rope over a branch, preventing the rats from finding it.
In the morning, all the warriors of the first two kingdoms were ill, finding rat droppings in their food and sleeping-things, and several of them could barely even stand, let alone fight.
That night, the partying was subdued, but still jubilant. Old grudges were settled by the fireside, tales of heroism told and retold, and many casks of wine were emptied and tossed aside.
Again, the old knight counseled the gathered warriors. He warned them that bandits had long preyed on dwellers of this island, making off with any valuables they could. "Pfah! What does the old man know?" They cried, well into their cups. "Surely, no bandit would trouble such an assembled group of warriors!"
But the lone squire from the third kingdom listened intently to his wise old master, and hung a noose beside their pot, dangling from the tree, so that bandits might see the penalty for troubling them, and be warned away.
The day of the tournament came, and the Knights and squires of the first and second kingdoms emerged from their tents to find their fine armour and weapons stolen in the night by bandits.
Amazed, they hunted around, but even their horses were gone. The Knights could not fight at all, and only a very few of their squires could craft cudgels with which to do battle.
But the crafty squire of the third kingdom had warned bandits away, and his battered old pot helm and coat of plates, and his dented old sword, were safe in his tent.
He took to the field under the gaze of his master, and although the other squires allied against him, he defeated those who were well and well-armoured enough to fight him.
And thus we learned that the squire of the high pot and noose was equal to the sum of squires on the other two sides.
So they agreed to hold a tournament of all their champions, on an island in the middle of the lake.
The first, being rich and influential, sent twenty Knights, and thirty squires, with many horses and wagons laden with food and wine.
The second, being well-off, sent ten knights and twenty squires, as well as several wagons of food and drink.
The last kingdom had only one knight, who was very aged and rather decrepit, and had but the one squire. They brought with them a single iron pot, and a horse with food enough for the journey.
The first evening, much revelry was had- wine was shared and spilled in equal measure, great haunches of meat were roasted and cut, and all are well.
The old knight counseled that there were rats on the island, and food should be moved off the ground, to avoid them spreading plague.
The Knights and squires of the first and second kingdoms disregarded his advice, saying "Pfah! What does he know? We are so many, no rats would dare bother us!"
But the squire of the third kingdom listened attentively to his old knight, and hauled their old iron pot on a rope over a branch, preventing the rats from finding it.
In the morning, all the warriors of the first two kingdoms were ill, finding rat droppings in their food and sleeping-things, and several of them could barely even stand, let alone fight.
That night, the partying was subdued, but still jubilant. Old grudges were settled by the fireside, tales of heroism told and retold, and many casks of wine were emptied and tossed aside.
Again, the old knight counseled the gathered warriors. He warned them that bandits had long preyed on dwellers of this island, making off with any valuables they could. "Pfah! What does the old man know?" They cried, well into their cups. "Surely, no bandit would trouble such an assembled group of warriors!"
But the lone squire from the third kingdom listened intently to his wise old master, and hung a noose beside their pot, dangling from the tree, so that bandits might see the penalty for troubling them, and be warned away.
The day of the tournament came, and the Knights and squires of the first and second kingdoms emerged from their tents to find their fine armour and weapons stolen in the night by bandits.
Amazed, they hunted around, but even their horses were gone. The Knights could not fight at all, and only a very few of their squires could craft cudgels with which to do battle.
But the crafty squire of the third kingdom had warned bandits away, and his battered old pot helm and coat of plates, and his dented old sword, were safe in his tent.
He took to the field under the gaze of his master, and although the other squires allied against him, he defeated those who were well and well-armoured enough to fight him.
And thus we learned that the squire of the high pot and noose was equal to the sum of squires on the other two sides.