Once upon a time, in a land far, far away, our tale begins. Our future hero, young Dale of Lionhardt, was born the son of a simple blacksmith, Rolf. Lionhardt, the elder, shoed the jousting steeds and fashioned armor in his back yard under the shade tree. Jousting was a rich man's sport, but Rolf and his commoner friends would get together on Sunday's and joust among themselves. This is where young Dale learned how to handle a horse and lance.

Even though jousting was a rich man's game, young Dale worked two jobs, to get up the money to enter smaller tournaments. He won more than he lost, and rose up through the ranks, leaving two wives along the way, until he made it to the highest level in the land, NASJOUST.

Lionhardt was a natural. No one had ever seen a jouster with such a feel for his horse. And, the lance. If you were not paying close enough attention, not only would he beat you, you would end up in the grass of the infield. The commoners loved Lionhardt. He was one of them, except that he was a winner. The commoners were for the most part, poor, insecure, scared, shoeless, and semi-literate, at best. Lionhardt winning, made them feel better about their lot in life. Remember this was back in the days of plagues and such.

Dale of Lionhardt stayed on top of NASJOUST for about 20 years. He was an eight time season champion. He had been with his third wife, Thriza, for almost 20 years also. His two sons were following in his bootsteps, and jousting as well. Lionhardt had it all, a castle on the hill with a three carriage stable. Dale Lionhardt Limited, DLL, was to be his legacy. A jousting team that he would build from nothing and mold into a championship contender. It was not to be.

Way back in '01, 1601. The biggest joust meet of the year was underway. Lionhardt's two young proteges, Dale the Younger, and Michael the Mouth, were vying for the victory. Lionhardt wanted them to win so bad that he got too close to the action, and caught a wayward lance. He was still wearing the outdated armor that his father had made for him so many years before. It wasn't enough protection this time, and Lionhardt left this mortal coil.

Thriza decided that DLL would continue on, and that Dale the Younger would be the heir apparent to the fallen champion. Young Dale won a few jousts. Usually on a longer joust course that required a special armored breast plate. He, and, to a lesser extent, the Mouth dominated these plate jousts for a short period. Sadly, Thriza showed why women weren't allowed to own businesses back in the days of yore. DLL wouldn't stay up with the competition, and fell on hard times.

Dale the Younger saw this down period as a time to try a semi-hostile takeover. He overplayed his hand and failed to gain his birthright. Thriza also overplayed her hand, though. She thought family ties would be enough to keep young Dale in servitude. But other joust teams were anxious to have Dale on their team. Thriza was the only one in the land who was surprised when Dale went to the best team in NASJOUST, Richard Hendrick Carriages.

Which brings us to the stopping point of this tale. Young Dale has won just one joust, by oat management, up to this part of the story. He and the entire sport of NASJOUST are under siege by a young knight known as Busch the Brash.

To be continued.....