Skyrim System In Westeros

The day of the tournament had arrived. The guards led Wright and Renly into the arena, and the stands had increased in size since a few days ago.

It seemed that Stannis wouldn't let an opportunity to make money slip by, and he was not one to miss a profitable venture.

The area around the arena was lined with flags from noble families from all over. Outside the arena, competitors were polishing their weapons and armor, preparing their horses and adorning them with beautiful horse armor. Even if they couldn't win, they still needed to maintain their dignity.

As the crowd continued to file into the stands, everyone was dressed in their finest attire. The tournament was not only a grand sporting event of the era, but also an important occasion for socializing among the nobility. Many families had brought their unmarried children, hoping to make new connections and possibly meet suitable matches.

As members of the host family organizing the tournament, Wright and Renly had no worries about finding a seat.

On the main stand, Prince Rhaegar and Lord Robert naturally took the highest chairs, chatting and drinking together.

Representatives from three Kingdoms—Dorne's Oberyn, Vale Albert, and the North's Eddard—each had a seat.

The closest seats to the stand were occupied by Stannis, his two uncles, and several small noble Houses. Wright naturally sat down in the empty seat next to Renly.

As for Barristan and Arthur Dayne, who were part of the royal guards, they had duties to perform for the prince's honor and protection. They had to stand, as this was a formal occasion. From their conversation, it was clear that both would also participate in the upcoming competition.

The tournament was divided into jousting, archery, and team events. The nobility cared most about jousting and team events, with archery being more of a spectacle. Those of higher status rarely participated in it, as it was seen as a way for lower-ranked knights and soldiers to make a name for themselves.

Once enough participants had taken their seats, Robert raised his hand. Over twenty soldiers, clad in full armor and cloaked in coronets bearing the stag insignia, sounded several sharp notes on their horns, signaling the official start of the tournament.

Due to the large number of participants, the tournament would last several days, starting with the preliminary rounds.

The archery event was simple, allowing for multiple participants at once, and the winners were quickly determined. By the end of the first day, the champion had been decided: a squire from House Grandison won and was knighted on the spot by Robert.

Wright, being so young, could only watch. However, unlike Renly, who would occasionally gasp in amazement or fall asleep, Wright wandered around the stands. When there were no matches, he would take a guard and go for a walk around the town, carrying a small notebook where he would jot down and sketch various observations, always keen to record information.

The next day was the group competition finals.

The day of the team tournament had arrived. The rules for the competition were that a commander would lead a group of knights or squires to represent their house. Traditionally, each match would feature seven teams, though exceptions could be made if there weren't enough participants.

Prince Rhaegar and Arthur Dayne did not compete, leaving the royal family's representation to Barristan Selmy. His squire, Jon Connington, represented House Connington in the tournament. The seven teams that made it to the finals, clad in heavy armor and wielding weapons, stepped onto the field for the mêlée. The weaker and exhausted fighters were gradually knocked out.

As the competition went on, a few were left standing. The Kingsguard Barristan Selmy first defeated Jon Connington, followed by a victory over Lord Leyton Hightower, the Lord of Oldtown. Jon Connington, whose skills were average, wasn't expected to win; he had entered the tournament to learn. Leyton, older than Barristan, had started to tire and couldn't keep up.

Lord Randyl Tarly of Horn Hill, who wasn't as skilled as some of the other champions, was better known for commanding armies than personal combat. By the time he faced Robert, all of his men had been eliminated, and he was at a disadvantage. In his fight with Robert, the difference in combat styles became evident. Robert's hammer strikes, which were devastating and unstoppable, were no match for the dexterous swordplay of Barristan. A powerful swing from Robert hit the armor, but his opponent skillfully evaded and parried. Exhausted, Robert found himself outwitted by Barristan, who placed his sword at Robert's throat, sending him out of the match.

The final battle of the team tournament came down to Barristan Selmy of the Kingsguard versus Prince Oberyn Martell of Dorne.

Dorne, the only desert region of Westeros, had extreme heat where metal armor could burn the skin. As a result, Dornishmen usually wore light leather armor, using metal only for vital areas. They also favored long spears, relying on agility and reach. While it was said that Aegon the Conqueror forged the Iron Throne from the swords of defeated enemies, the Dornishmen simply smiled at the notion of their long spears being converted into iron.

Prince Oberyn, a young man in his twenties, was skilled in combat and loved to show off. Handsome with exotic features, he remained unmarried. After defeating opponents, he would twirl his spear to show off, drawing cheers from the crowd, especially the young women.

Oberyn was also adept in poison-making, and his spear was always coated with venom. Though the venom wasn't deadly in the tournament, it was certainly painful and disorienting. He was often seen wearing red clothing, earning him the nickname "Red Viper" among the crowds.

Oberyn danced around Barristan, using his weapon's reach to his advantage, thrusting it repeatedly. Barristan, weighed down by his heavy armor, began to tire. Facing this relentless assault, he switched his grip to one-handed to gain more flexibility, using his free hand for balance and defense.

When a heavy thrust came, Barristan saw his opportunity. He struck from above, knocking the spearhead into the ground, then closed the distance quickly. Oberyn, unable to land a successful blow, tried to retreat and gain distance, but Barristan was already too close. With a swift motion, Barristan brought Oberyn to the ground.

Barristan's team, representing the royal family, won the team tournament.

The final stage of the jousting competition on the third day.

On the third day of the tournament, the final stage of the jousting competition began. The participants, armed with wooden lances and shields, charged at each other on horseback. To participate, they had to be clad in full plate armor, something beyond the means of commoners. Only the nobles could afford such elaborate gear.

Each knight wore armor and shields emblazoned with their family crests, representing the pride of their houses. The tournament was a display of noble honor, and each match was a matter of family prestige.

Prince Oberyn Martell faced Prince Rhaegar Targaryen in the semi-finals. As everyone knew, Dornishmen favored the spear, and Oberyn was a master of it. Rhaegar, on the other hand, was more accustomed to wielding a sword. After several intense rounds, a light breeze kicked up some dust on the field, and in that moment, Oberyn made a fatal mistake. Rhaegar capitalized on it and knocked Oberyn off his horse. With that, Rhaegar advanced to the final. Oberyn, shaking the dust from his eyes, took off his helmet and seemed to rub his eyes furiously, his defeat leaving him in third place.

The final match of the joust was between Arthur Dayne and Prince Rhaegar. The two battled fiercely for thirteen rounds, breaking twelve lances in the process. However, on the thirteenth charge, Rhaegar's shield shattered, and Arthur was unseated. As expected, with the title sword of the morning, Arthur's skill in jousting couldn't compare to that of a true knight-commander like Rhaegar.

Rhaegar won the jousting tournament, claiming victory in the final contest.

With the tournament concluded, many stayed in Storm's End to continue their business or host feasts for guests. Those with long journeys ahead began packing up, while traveling merchants dismantled their tents and prepared to move to the next location. Friends of Robert Baratheon were invited back to the castle for lavish meals and festivities.

Bored with the revelry, Wright decided to find Stannis. In the study, he joined Stannis, Maester Cressen, and the two uncles, calculating the tournament's earnings. A small portion came from taxes on local and foreign merchant caravans, but the bulk of the revenue came from gambling.

The Seven Kingdoms followed the faith of the Seven, which disapproved of gambling, illegitimacy, and, most seriously, incest and regicide. While incest and regicide were considered heinous crimes punishable by death or banishment to the Night's Watch, gambling and illegitimacy weren't taken as seriously. People might talk against such things, but their actions often told a different story.

During these days, Wright had been documenting the various goods he had seen, preparing for future ventures. However, he was disappointed to find that this world seemed to have it all. Wine from Lys, exquisite tapestries and perfumes, glassware from Myr, silk from Volantis, and highly distilled brandy from Tyrosh. Westeros itself had soap, salt, and simple alloys.

It seemed there was no way for a time traveler to profit here!

As he watched his uncles report numbers and Maester Cressen calculate with pen and paper, Stannis tallied the total. They discussed how the unexpected defeat of the Red Viper by Prince Rhaegar had resulted in huge gambling earnings. They calculated how much the Red Viper would receive from his share and criticized his high demands. After deducting prize money and costs, they tallied the profits.

Was this really going to be the way Wright made his fortune—as a gambling mogul in a medieval world?

The poor's share was always a pittance, while the wealthy received their full due. He wondered if this path would lead him to be forever marked with disgrace, ridiculed by all.