Legacy RP

[Tirin]

Surprise flickered over Salah's face for a brief moment, but he responded to the Empress' question without missing a beat, having apparently considered it before. "Forgive my pride, my Queen, but as I said - my blade has never erred. My peers respect me for my skill still more than my dedication, and I seek to cast down my foes - those of Arcadia - solely with my own strength. Further, I am as skilled a smith and tracker as I am a warrior; I can, and hope to, seek and excise evil wherever it may hide in the realm, performing my own repairs and upkeep as I do so. Thus the Phoenix would suit me better for the strength and skill I can bring to the Order, as well as the independence it would grant me; while there is strength in numbers, Majesty, alone I would be able to work quickly and effectively in bringing justice wherever justice is needed."

 

[Easy]

If the stern-faced knight had any emotion at the reading, it didn't register on his face. This was to be expected, as it was his usual response to good news.

Ser Gabriel the Proud had his own personal reasons to despise the occult, and was more than happy to be on the move for a while (though, per his honorific, he'd never admit why). The only part that troubled him about it was taking along a new recruit, at which he frowned, before folding up the missive and pocketing it in his cloak.

"Very well" he answered. "Tell her Ladyship that I hear and obey."

 

[Lotus]

@Jeroth
Gregg glares at Valgen. "I knew it. The 'ammerless is a coward." He scoffs and takes another bite of the sweetroll. "You ladies should clean this mess up. Isn't proper to leave broken things about like this. Then make me another one of these rolls. Their sweet, like you, Goldie." He grins a toothy smile at Goldie. "And take the 'ammerless lass with you. She'll need to learn to work in a kitchen if she won't fight." He laughed heartily.

 

[Lotus]

@coolpool2
You leave Shadowvale, and by mid-morning, you find yourself blazing a trail through the Rollin' Hills. A landscape of rolling foothills that is littered with small lakes, cave systems, and mines.


You locate a small pond with several large lilly pads with blooming flowers on them. The pond is surrounded by trees and shade. The perfect place for a rest.
You also stumble upon the entrance to a cave, or potential mine.

Do you Rest at the Lake, or Explore the Cave, or Continue toward Knat?

 

[Lotus]

@TimTh33nchant3r
Regas smiles warmly. "Some woodland magicks, huh? That might prove useful. What's a young cleric like yourself doing working as a cook in a lumberyard?" The dwarf pats his expansive gut and begins sniffing about the bits of food laid about the tables of the cook's tent.

Camphor nods at Regas. "Too true. Such magic will be a blessing where we are headed. I heard those woods were cursed by a powerful warlock. Savage beasts and unspeakable things that never die." He allows his voice to quickly trail away at the idea of coming across any 'unspeakable things'.

 

[coolpool2]

Kappa rests at the lake.

 

[Lotus]

@Tirin
The Queen nods approvingly. "Very well. Perhaps you will bring great things to the Phoenix after all. Now kneel and receive the sword, Ser Salah of the Phoenix."

She draws a brilliant gold and crystal sword that seems to draw in the light cast through the stained glass windows of the grand hall. That light shines down upon the fledgling knights. The touch of the light is warm and invigorating.

"Here me, Neustarr! These men before you kneel to your power and your law. Their pride is nothing compared to your valor! May you bless these knights this day, and grant them the strength and spirit necessary to protect these walls, the people, and the land of Arcadia!" The Queen shouts out the prayer and the crystal blade of the sword gleams brightly in response.

The Queen grows quiet, lowers the sword and nods to the Knightlord Strauss. He steps forward and speaks. "Mere men you were this morning, now you may stand as knights of the realm!" He slams his open palm onto his dragon emblazoned breastplate in a formal salute. "Now for the celebrations! Your fast has ended. May you eat, drink, and make merry this eve, but do not forget that from this day forward, you represent the kingdom and the royal family. To bring disgrace upon yourself is to disgrace the Emperor himself!" Strauss's warning echoes through the hall.

 

[Lotus]

@Easy
Bells ring and brilliant lights shine through the windows of the grand hall, signaling the end of the knighting ceremony. The knights gathered outside step back into formation as the short man takes his leave. "Thank you, Ser. I'll inform her Ladyship immediately."

The large doors of the grand hall open as a collection of knights walk out proudly. Their elder fellows cheer for their recent success and sing praises to Neustarr.

Large canvas sheets are drawn away from tables as minstrels and dancing ladies almost seem to come out of the woodwork. The tables are filled to the brim with sweet and savory foods from all across Arcadia. Carts of wine and ale draw up near to the grand hall and begin setting up for distribution of drink.

Do you Enter the Grand Hall and seek the new Phoenix Knight immediately, or Enjoy the festivities, you'll run into him eventually, or some other thing entirely?

 

[Lotus]

@coolpool2
The scent of the flowers is calming. Upon closer approach to the lake, the gnomish gunner finds that the trees bear fruit, and berry bushes grow thickly between the trees. The water is cool to the touch and so clear that the gleam of something sparkling can be seen at the bottom.

 

[Jeroth]

Valgen couldn’t help but laugh at Ol’ Gregg. The sad bastard’s farce at trying to be tough was endearing to him. “Gregg, you might have had a drink too much, but you’re ‘ammerless as well. You’re just toting around that old mining pick. I don’t see a ‘ammer on that.” Valgen turned to Goldie with a grin, riding off the waves of Gregg’s tantrum. “Sorry about Gregg’s tantrum. Let me help you with the table.” His gaze keeping track of Gregg - not wanting to be caught by a surprise attack. If Gregg didn’t care about striking back, then he would try to help Goldie with the broken table slab.

 

[TimTh33nchant3r]

Wilhelm shrugs and replies offhandedly, "Oh, you know, working as a cook in a lumberyard." He softly lays a hand upon Camphor's shoulder and quietly attempts to reassure him, "Oh, come on buddy. Whatever's out there can't be entirely unspeakable or you wouldn't have been able to bring yourself to speak of it. Trust me, everything is gonna work out totally fine."

With a relaxed smile, he takes a couple of steps and looks back at the pair of them. "So, which way are we going?"

 

[Easy]

Much as he would have preferred to take a squire along for the mission, rather than a knight who'd only stopped being a squire just moments ago, Gabriel turned and headed in to look for his soon-to-be pupil at the feast. Being himself, by and large, a rather surly man, he mustered up something very nearly like the appearance of enthusiasm as well as he could, once there, and took a spoon and goblet in hand and climbed onto a center table.

"My lords! My ladies!" He shouted, tapping the spoon against the rim of his cup to ring for silence. "A few words, please!" He kept ringing, as the silence reluctantly began to spread in a ring from around him. A rather abrupt interruption among such company, particularly from one who hadn't even been born into the gentry himself, but the man was a knight after all. Few places in the world did that title, on this day, carry more weight than it did here and now.

 

[coolpool2]

Kappa set down his heavy backpack with a sigh. He sat by the edge of the river, and took off his shoes, letting his feat soak in the cool water. He loved going for swims, he would always be the one to hold his breath the longest. So many great inventions used water. Sometimes Kappa wished that he was able to use water magic instead of just ice. The thermal energy drawn in from the ice could have many uses, but the possibilities of controlling water were greater.

Still, Nothing beat sitting by the water. Out of the corner of his eye he spotted something shiny. What could it be? Maybe a coin from a forgotten time? a fancy knife? It could even be some reflective foil littered by a traveller on a picnic. He didn't care to dive in, for now Kappa was perfectly content with his little break.

 

[Tirin]

Salah beamed with pride and jubilation as the Queen affirmed his place as a Knight of the Phoenix, and knelt beside his newly-knighted fellows, lowering his head for the Queen's prayer to Neustarr. A gentle smile grew on his face between the warmth of the light and the completion of the prayer; he knew that he, and all those assembled, had the blessing of Neustarr, and intended to honor his god alongside the empire and people he had pledged his life to defend. Alongside the others, he stood and saluted Knightlord Strauss, hand striking his lustrous armor with the harsh clash of metal on metal, and stepped out from the hall and into the bright light of noonday, more than ready to break his fast.

Quickly seating himself, the newest Knight of the Phoenix indulged his hunger and thirst with the finest food and drink of the realm, in his merriment eating enough for two men (though, of course, only to fuel his ability to fight as well as even more), and gladly conversing with the other fresh knights. However, the feast was soon interrupted by another knight - one who hadn't been in the Great Hall, and Salah had never before met - who rudely climbed onto a table and began ringing his glass, demanding the silence of the entire celebration. He frowned, and then swallowed his last bite and set down his food, giving the man the attention he so craved. Salah couldn't be sure what was important enough to interrupt the festivities over, but suspected it was nothing good.

 

[Easy]

For a moment, when everything when quiet, Ser Gabriel very nearly faltered. It wasn't the pressure of all these gazes; he'd seen far too many ordeals to be intimidated by something so insignificant as that. It did suddenly occur to him, though, that while he'd always operated under the assumption that any social nicety was unimportant enough to be ignored in the execution of his duty, some of the highest nobles in the land were present in this hall right now, so it would be best if he actually said something good. Something like...

...

Oh, to hell with it. The truth, then, or something like it.

"Lords and ladies" he bowed his head momentarily in acknowledgement, and went on, speaking clearly to even the furthest corners of the room.

"The men and women here have accepted a great honor, and a great cause. The Imperial Knights of Archada are renowned the world over for their bravery, their selflessness, their integrity and valor. To say that every one of them is grateful for the favor you show them today does not do justice to the full truth, for the truth is this: I have no doubt that each and every one of them will wager their own lives, health, and whatever else they have to wager countless many times in the years to come, and do whatever is in their power to see you justified a thousand, thousand times! So please, lift your glass with me when I say this: A toast! To these brave men and women, and to the future of the Archadian knighthood that they represent!"

Pretty good speech actually, he reflected, as he raised his own glass and drank amidst the roar of applause. Just goes to show... although what exactly it went to show, he found hard to pin down.

"And now," he cut in after the applause had died down, but before anyone had quite resumed their conversations yet. "The duty that accompanies that great honor, for what the enemies of our shining example lack in honor, they make up in vigor. I call my newest comrade of the Phoenix to see me immediately in the stable-yard. Your first assignment starts now." With that, he stepped down abruptly and strode out before anyone could think to question him, walking as if it didn't even occur to him that anyone would think of doing so. There were two ways to walk around nobles: Boldly, as if you stood above the very world you saw around you, or meekly, as if you knew that it owned you. Aristocrats weren't used to anything in between, and it made them uncomfortable.

 

[Lotus]

@Jeroth
Gregg sneered before lowering his pick. "Just as I expected, you're afraid." He slips the pick into a loop on his belt and shoves the last of the bun into his mouth. "Lucky for you, I don't actually care to fight an unarmed opponent." Bits of bun fall out of his mouth as he speaks and chews. He swallows hard. "Put the price o' the table on my tab, and get me a drink. I need to wash this wastrel's bun down with somethin' hard." Gregg walks away from Valgen's direct vicinity and walks up to the bar.

Goldie sighs in relief. "Glad that's over. I'll get you another bun, Valgen. On the house. And don't worry about this table. We'll call a shaper over to fix it. Should be fixed by tomorrow." She steps away from Valgen. "That must've taken a lot to resist Ol' Gregg's antagonizing. He's always picking fights around here."

A pair of dwarves in leather armor with insignia of the merchant's guild enter. "Valgen." The hardier looking one with red hair knotted into tight curls says sternly. "We've been looking all over for you. Mordrin is ready to transport those provisions to Knat. You're on hire as escort, aren't you?"

 

[Lotus]

@TimTh33nchant3r
Camphor speaks up first. "I suggest we head directly east into the wood until we find an animal trail. The wolves will likely be following it, and we can use it to track them down." He shoves a thumb into a satchel at his side and pulls it out covered in a red-brown cream. He then begins applying it to his face, over his bony features.

Regas shakes his head. "We should follow the trail set by last night's patrol. We'd find the scene of the attack and be able closer to finding the wolves that way." Regas and Camphor both look at Wilhelm, as if expecting him to add his piece.

 

[Lotus]

@coolpool2 (I nearly did @kappa which wouldn't do shit)

As you rest with your feet in these waters, you quickly drift off to sleep. Kappa awakens with a few wild animals drinking from the small oasis nearby. Kneeling next to him, and fawning over him is a beautiful woman. Her hair is a shining golden-blonde, and her skin is covered in luminescent scales. She wears a flowing gown of pure white with shimmering blue gems accentuating her voluptuous curves.

"Hello, sleeping wanderer. What brings you to my home?" She smiles. Her eyes are entrancing. The allure of her visage is so powerful that it Kappa finds himself with a strong desire to stay here forever.

 

[Jeroth]

Valgen gave a relaxed sigh as Gregg walked away. He could have beaten him to death, but it’d be more of an issue. Guards, a potential ban from the tavern and a life-long enemy.

He gave a nod when the free bun was mentioned. “Thank you, Goldie. I’d appreciate it. As far as Ol’ Gregg goes, he’s an ass, but it wouldn’t have been worth the fight.”

“Valgen.”

He could hear his name being called. It was with a hint of anger and disappointment as he turned to see the merchant’s guild members looking for him. “Aye, I did sign on to be an escort.” He turned to Goldie, calling out: “Could I get that bun to go?”

 

[Lotus]

@Jeroth
Goldie returns from the kitchen with a small satchel and a wine skin. "Here you go, dearie. One cinnamon bun to go, and a refill to go on your apple lager." She hands both items to Valgen before ducking away back into the crowd of patrons.

"Mordrin's waiting on ya. You're not late or anything, but you know Mordrin. He always expects everyone to be ready early, and then everyone has to wait on him." The slightly taller blonde merchant dwarf says with a chuckle before running a thumb across his thick, matted beard. "I didn't say that though."

"Borra, you should learn to hold your tongue if you ever hope to be more than a messenger for the merchant's guild." The first dwarf says. "Do hurry though. Mordrin doesn't like having to wait."

Both dwarves step aside to open a hole to the door of the pub. "Safe travels." Borra chuckles. "Watch out for trolls."