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Post by Tam on Jan 1, 2007 19:47:57 GMT -5
Hoping that neither of the knights had noticed her display of jumpiness, Tamia smiled and nodded at the half-demon who had just plummeted from the sky. "Hello, Lady Shade," she said, grateful for the interruption. She was still painfully aware of Oran on her shoulder and Kit in front of her exchanging glances. Even as the Grey Knight turned to greet Shade, Oran continued to stare coolly in his direction.
"You're making yourself very popular," Tamia hissed irritably.
The cat pointedly ignored her gaze, replying with indifference, Whether I am liked or unliked, it matters not to me. But I will be keeping my eyes on that one. Without a backward glance, he leapt from her shoulder and crouched before the courtyard wall, tail twitching.
"And you're making me feel like a proper fool." She leaned against the wall and crossed her arms, annoyed.
In one fluid movement, Oran sprang to the very top of the brick wall and settled down there, tucking his paws beneath him. I am a cat. It's what I do. His bright green eyes flickered back to the Grey Knight... or whatever it was down there that was bothering him so.
The Orange knight shook her head and left him to his shameless spying. Surveying the courtyard, she was surprised to see another knight bounding across the open grass towards them, amethyst robes swirling behind her, earrings flashing in the midday sun. Tamia held back a smile.
Normally, she didn't converse with mages, wizards, or sorcerers of any sort much. Her own lack of magical talent made understanding magic users' ways blatantly impossible. Although she would never admit it outright, deep down she also suspected that she was harbouring a slight jealousy towards those gifted with such a talent. In her entire life, despite her best efforts, she could count just two occasions in which she had performed an act of magic. The first time, it had been in the belltower at Millsford. Climbing the dusty stairs to sound the bell one morning, the ancient piece of hollowed bronze had gonged without cause, the force of the blaring note sending her head over heels down the twisting staircase. The most recent occurence had taken place not two weeks ago, in the knight's own quarters here at the castle. While playing around with her beloved slingshot, rapidly drawing back the string in an experimental motion had produced a dazzling shower of sparks. So far, she was the only one who had noticed the singe marks on her rug.
Despite her own misgivings about mages, however, Lady Kat was someone she had always admired. The Purple Knight was a brilliant fighter, a skilled mage, and as charismatic as any noble lady of high society could ever hope to be. She suspected that some of the masculine members of the NTWF Knights had noticed these traits as well, if the glances she received in the castle halls were any clue.
On this particular occasion, though, Kat seemed in considerable distress. Although Tamia knew she would be little help if it should come to Kit and Lady Kat doing whatever it was that mage-knights did in times of trouble, she couldn't help but stand by as the Purple Knight approached, eager to hear what was amiss.
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Post by Kat on Jan 1, 2007 20:06:58 GMT -5
Stopping in her tracks, Kat glanced sideways and behind her. "Greetings, Lady Shade," she gretted the half-demon. "And the same to you, Lady Tamia."
She glanced down at the chain half-concealed by her robe and cape. Should she tell them of her bad tidings? On one hand, they would panic and cause an uproar even before the real ceremony began. But then again, they were qualified, bonafide knights, and knights knew better than to panic.
"I bring bad news. I sense evil in the air, and it wishes to interfere with the Ceremony. Hopefully Sir Kit, and all of you, will be able to help supervise the Ceremony and make sure everything goes well."
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Post by Shadaras on Jan 1, 2007 20:16:40 GMT -5
"Evil as in darkness and shadow, or evil as in evil?" Shade looked around using her Shadowsight. "Strange... I see nothing that could be considered evil. It must be hiding, or maybe it's something I haven't encountered before."
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Post by Kat on Jan 1, 2007 20:29:39 GMT -5
Kat thought for a moment. "Evil, as in, real evil, not just darkness. There is always good darkness, just as there is also evil light magic. It's a balance. Anyway...I've done a little scrying with my silver moon pendant, and I could feel the aura that only destructive magic can exude.
"Perhaps this may be something we have never encountered before, as every kind of individual magic has their own individual aura and feeling, like a fingerprint. This one really feels distinctively evil, but it's like an evil we've never seen before." She nodded, wiggling her index finger in the air and creating a tiny purple dragon that writhed and twisted in the air for a while before disappearing.
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Post by Shadaras on Jan 1, 2007 20:36:07 GMT -5
"Huh. Well, I know about most demonic auras, and I don't see any of them." Shade thought for a moment, frowning a bit. "But I did see a... Well, a shadow within the shadows is the best way I can think of to describe it. The shadow is sort of in a path, but it jumps around sometimes. It goes right through the protections you set up."
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Post by Kat on Jan 1, 2007 20:40:37 GMT -5
"Which confirms my suspicions that this may be something we've never experienced before," Kat concluded. "I will need everyone's help in keeping this danger in check and also in setting up some new barriers to keep the more important parts of the castle safe. A few can also go see if damage has been done."
She gritted her teeth, shoving her hands into her pockets. "We have to meet, all of us. So we can make a good enough plan. Meanwhile, I'll delve deeper into this mysterious new evil."
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Post by Deleted on Jan 1, 2007 21:41:20 GMT -5
"Evil? Perhaps we may fight." Fenrix stepped from the shadows of the hallways, into the courtyard, Cross Fire sat on her shoulders, his tail curled around her neck, she looked like the barbarian royalty that she was. Smiling slowly she fiddled with the handle of her dagger. Every once in a while, her eyes would switch to amber dragon eyes, then back to emerald green. "I sense it as well...just on a different level. The wind smells musky, unlike anything I have smelled before." Cross Fire sneezed to prove her point and muttered in halting english. "Humans....bah. The lot of them..." Fenrix couldn't help but sigh and put a hand on his muzzle to silence him. "Be quiet."
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Post by zarikrahia on Jan 1, 2007 22:28:03 GMT -5
Zari shivered.
'Your place is not Here, Alshevea Zari. You should be somewhere else.'
'Zaha, I'm not one of them anymore. I ran away to escape the...' she stopped 'Normality. Everything was the same, I had to act like an adult when I was only six. Not to mention the Hirren Incident. I have my own mind'
'Still, you have a duty to them, as I have mine.'
'I have my duty here. I feel at home...I don't feel apart, I don't have everyone trying to get on my side.'
'Maybe you should let your old identity show.'
'My identity? My personality? You know I'm alone by nature.'
'Bah. You've forgotten Kathy, Dray, all them? Zari,' the cat gave her a sympathetic look 'You're becoming three different people. Alshevea Zariakesha, Lady Zari of Krahia, and the Zari I thought I knew. Zari Bookmaster.'
'I don't want to be a Fae. Why can't I be human?'
'Zari, heed my words. Stop hiding.'
But the Fae had vanished, to reappear beside Fenrix. She addressed Kat 'Maybe I can help? Darkness is no stranger to me than my own hand.'
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Post by KitClairvoyance on Jan 2, 2007 0:50:35 GMT -5
Kit listened in silence as Kat and Shade exchanged thoughts concerning the possible threat that they were up against. Personally, he was more concerned about Tamia's cat who had taken to the top of the brick wall and was intent on staring Maya down. A creature that could apparently see or even sense Maya could be anything from a cat with a taint of magic or a full-blown sorcerer in disguise.
"Are all humans this jumpy when they sense a probable evil aura?" Maya asked Kit, "For all we know, it could be me they're sensing." Kit could detect a sense of irritation in Maya's voice, she never took kindly to those who condemned evil outright and demanded the destruction of everything concerned with it. Maya herself was born a creature of darkness; and had she not became Kit's familiar, she herself could have been the malevolent force they were trying so hard to puzzle out.
Then again, Kit himself wasn’t all pure light and goodness. Being a practitioner in the divinatory arts and demonology leaves its mark on one's soul, but so far he had been able to keep things under control. Hopefully, an evil side won't manifest itself anytime soon. He turned to Maya, who was still listening to the conversation intently. Perhaps she was waging war on her natural evil self inside her, perhaps that was why she behaved so erratically at times.
"Maya, do me a favour and search the castle quickly. Maybe you can turn up something Kat can't." Kit whispered to Maya as Fenrix and Zari joined in the conversation.
"Using darkness to find darkness? Fine then, I'll be back soon.."
"And Maya.." Kit glanced towards the cat,
"Hm?"
"Be careful."
Maya looked to Kit with a smile of amusement on her face, "Concerned about me? You should be more concerned about yourself," she said, gesturing to the other knights, "it seems like you'll be up against something big." Maya left with a wink.
Kit knew it wouldn't take her long to cover the grounds, being mostly spiritual had its benefits. For now, he would have to help the others. He looked at the other knights who had already assembled in the area, most of the magical crew had responded. A strong gust of wind ripped through the courtyard, sending leaves into the air, only to float down again. This would prove to be an interesting day indeed.
He wondered what had happened to the earlier sparrow.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 2, 2007 13:11:19 GMT -5
Wolf pulled the scroll from the door and unfurled it. He read it silently.
Knights of Dunburrow;
An evil has arisen in our midst and likewise the coronation ceremony has been postponed until evening to ensure a safe crowning of our King.
Despite this forthcoming, formal attire remains required for attending the ceremony. For men, trousers with silk shirts, dragon-skin vests, or armor is acceptable; for women, silk or linen dresses and ornate jewelry will be presentable.
For weaponry, swords, daggers and staffs may be brought. Shields may also be brought. Bows and books, however, should be left in room during the ceremony. Animals may be brought, if tamed.
May all be well,
White Knight Shino
Pushing the door shut, and latching it as well, Wolf sighed heavily as he leaned back against the closed door. He suddenly knew why he had felt such dire need to be ready. Something was coming, and though he had sensed impeding circumstance, his skills in divination were not of great enough ability to forewarn him perfectly.
Nevertheless, he was near being ready already.
His guides had assisted him, and so he was free now to defend his country, his castle, his comrades.
Wolf sighed again and set down the note. He would have to act more quickly now. Then, stepping back into his washing room, he was surprised, though not startled, to see that his first guide had returned and was reflected in the mirror sitting behind him. Even though the room was, in truth, filled only by Lord Wolf himself.
"I had not expected to see you again so soon," the wolf said.
Wolf nodded with a hum. "I cannot go about half-shaven, can I?"
"True," the wolf said, "though however shaven you are should be the least of your worries now. I sense a dark shadow falling over the land, and you will be needed to fight it."
"I know," the man replied flatly. "But why did you wait till now to tell me this?"
"Because last time we spoke, you were soon angered by my usage of your name and thus the subject was turned away from the present manner. You should know, Erros, that we wolves would never turn against our own kind."
The Green Knight said nothing.
"Very well," the wolf said in his stead, "I should be going now and you should be going as well. For when you are ready, the evil is being spoken of in the courtyards."
Wolf instantly recalled having ran past Shade, Kit, and Tamia as he had been heading towards his room earlier that day.
In the lapse of silence, the wolf stood on all four and walked out of the mirror's sight.
Wolf spared no time in rushing to finish his shaving, and after hardly another minute he was standing before his clothing, uncertain what to wear. He would likely have no time to return and change into his ceremonial garb, yet... if there were trouble...
Wolf snorted in his haste and reached for his mail. Being mythril, it was lightweight, flexible, and thin. He stepped into it, the silvery metal tinted in the slightest bit a bit green like foliage, and then let it fall from his hands. He stepped out of his armor and knelt before his chest instead, pulling it open with breakneck haste.
The man pulled out a sleeveless undershirt and a pair of nickers; both were a dull-grey mix of cotton and silk. He put them on instantly, welcoming the closeness to which they fell to his skin, close enough to be a tight fit as he liked it but loose enough to not impede upon his movements in any manner. Then, as he pulled on his mythril mail and fed his arms through the torso's appropriate if yet sleeveless holes, he had a nice laugh at how his haste had distorted his order dressing. He didn't even want to imagine that chafing that he had now properly prevented.
He ran back to his chest after moment after and pulled out his dark-brown trousers, a silk tunic (colored a jewel-toned green, of course), and a black belt. He put on all three, closed his chest, and turned towards his weapons' shelf. He reached out for his claw, though the bulk of it upon his arm was much less than ceremonial. Instead, he pulled open a drawer and withdrew an emerald dagger. He fastened it's sheath to his belt and then sheathed the knife appropriately.
After he had stepped into and fastened his leather-brown boots, straighted his sleeveless green tunic, and donned a leather-green glove for his left hand to match his right, he retreated from his room, certain to lock his door afterwards, and began running towards the courtyard with utmost urgency in his veins. ((Permission was granted to make the note from Shino, just so y'know...)) |
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Post by Kat on Jan 2, 2007 16:58:14 GMT -5
Kat bowed - actually, curtsied - before her fellow knights before leaving them and going back inside the castle, though the gate closest to her quarters. She dug inside her pockets for her key and opened the right door, shutting it behind her. Suddenly, she realized something, and hurried back outside.
Just underneath the plaque on her door was a scroll. But before she reached for it, she twirled one index finger and created a tiny purple dragon, like the one on the grounds. It scurried into the rolled-up piece of parchment and started nosing around before coming out and disappearing in a puff of amethyst sparkles.
Whatever that evil was, it definitely wasn't in the scroll. Kat took it from the door and went back inside, slowly unfolding it.
Of course, she already knew about the evil; but what she didn't know was that the ceremony would be postponed.
She rolled up the scroll again, shoved it into her pocket, and headed for the privy and bath, making sure the doors of her quarters and the door of the privy were securely locked.
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Post by Tam on Jan 2, 2007 18:55:04 GMT -5
Tamia didn't need to be a mage to understand that whatever darkness was stirring, they would all need to be on guard, for their own sakes and the sakes of the people of the NTWF. A little nervous, she glanced over her shoulder to scan the wall for Oran, but he was already gone. How very like a cat, disappearing whenever you need them.
It looked like the throng of people waiting for the Ceremony was dispersing, so the Orange Knight suspected something had just transpired. Bidding her fellow knights a quick farewell, she took her leave and headed in the direction of the castle's west wing and her own quarters.
As she passed through the halls, she noticed several other knights and servants milling about, some in groups, conversing in hushed tones. Scarcely anyone took note of her as she walked by, as engrossed as they were in their anxious discussion. She quickened her pace.
Upon reaching the door to her room, which was located deep inside the maze of corners that was the knights' living quarters and at the very end of a particularily long corridor, she immediately noticed the roll of parchment tacked to her door. Hesitantly, she plucked the scroll from the oaken door and carefully unfurled it, sensing that this message must contain the source of the castle's unrest.
She slowly unlocked her quarters and stepped inside as her eyes scanned the fine script.
An evil has arisen in our midst and likewise the coronation ceremony has been postponed until evening to ensure a safe crowning of our King. That first sentence alone would be enough to send many of the unknighted residents of the castle into a frenzy. As she sank onto her stuffed mattress, still scrutinizing the parchment notice, the reality of her duty as a Knight of the NTWF weighed heavily on her.
As the knights' chambers went, hers were comparitively simple. Her living area was comfortable, but not particularily roomy, a small commode located in an adjacent room. Her bedsheets were made of soft cotton, with several warm knitted blankets piled on top. Two bedside tables were obscured beneath bundles of medicinal plants and wildflowers, and a writing desk stood in one corner, a small supply of parchment waiting patiently upon it for her daily journal entries. Along the desk's top was arranged a line of polished river stones from home. Her favourite feature of the room, and the only one she found particularily enchanting, was the large window set in the wall that overlooked the beautiful courtyard a story below. She had complemented the fine emerald drapes bordering it with a painstakingly handcrafted dreamcatcher her grandmother had made for her. Something about its beauty, and the beauty of the legend associated with it, had always appealed to her, and it was one of the only things she had brought into her new life at the castle.
The knight reflected on how quickly the events of the last few months had seemed to progress. She was undoubtedly one of the youngest knights in the castle, and training herself in the various tasks involved with becoming a great knight was making it more and more difficult for her to find days like these, days where she could lounge in the courtyard shade all day should she desire.
And then, she thought wryly, some dark omen always has to come along to spoil it all.
She reached out and lifted her old slingshot from the nightstand. It seemed like she had been more often holding the polished metal of her sword instead these days, and the smooth wood felt good under her fingertips. She was a beginner at this life. I am getting better, though, she thought, reminding herself that she was now able to defeat some of the other young knights on the training grounds with her newfound swordsmanship, and she was still learning the properties of a new herb each day.
She gazed at the scroll in her lap and sighed. No Ceremony until the evening... what was she going to do for a few hours? She took one look at the slingshot in her hand and grinned.
((Sorry about the longer post, but I wanted to get some of the backstory done with.))
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Post by Shadaras on Jan 2, 2007 19:30:20 GMT -5
Glancing at the sun, Shade sighed. "I suppose it's time for me to get ready for the ceremony." Stepping in to the nearest shadow, she disappeared. Reappearing outside her room, Shade saw a scroll pinned to her door.
After reading it, she grumbled "Postponed, yes, but for how long?" Entering her room, she locked the door and said, apparently to the air and darkness, "Lisengyre, there's something evil haunting the castle. I haven't seen anything with an aura like it's, but I thought that you might've." As she spoke, Shade took out her formal gear, thinking I may as well get ready, even if the ceremony isn't for a while.
As she slipped a bronze colored tunic over her armor, she heard a voice in her head. Silirshadi, I don't know what the aura is from either. "Could you stop calling me that, Father?" She pulled up loose bronze pants patterned in green. Why? Would you prefer I call you Shasa? "No," Shade said, putting on a woven belt with a bronze buckle shaped like a dragon, "I'd prefer you call me Shade. But if Shasa is the other option, Silirshadi is fine." You use the name I gave you, but shorten it to Shade. Why do you do that, my shining shadow? Shade looked at Lisengyre, who had coalesced out of the perpetual shadow her room was in. "Because humans can't say Silirshadi easily, or remember it."
Standing, she put on the finishing touch: a bronze mantle on her neck and shoulders; flexible enough that she could move, and carved with dragons. Shade herself had carved Dae runes in to it; runes of protection and strength. Silirshadi, I will guard you and the knights as best I can. Try not to block me from the ceremony. "Alright, Father," Shade said, turning to check her appearance in the mirror. She saw her father dissipating, and ignored it.
Her black hair was cut to shoulder length and tucked behind her pointed ears, but nothing she did could tame it. At least it was clean. Bronze tunic emblazoned with a green phoenix, bronze pants with green on the bottom fringes, and clean leather boots. And the final touch... She added two bronzed daggers to her belt, both with sapphires the color of her eyes on the pommel. Satisfied, she picked up a book on demons that Lisengyre had given her, and began to read.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 2, 2007 19:35:39 GMT -5
Fenrix didn't move, even when the other knights left. She already knew what was going on, the winds were telling her, she caught snippets of conversations that the breezes brought back to her. With a bored yawn she turned towards the training fields once again. "I best begin training right? After all, if we are going to fight, I should be ready." Cross Fire snorted, hiding his laughter. {This is just an excuse for you to be by yourself. You should try making friends, not strangers. What would your parents think?} Fenrix shrugged. "They'd think I was being incredibly anti-social. Big deal.....Look where their friendly attitudes got them." Cross Fire nipped her pointed ears. {Stupid girl! Be respectful. You know, your new king will be sorely dissapointed when he finds out that you are rude.}
Fenrix laughed, brushing the dragon off of her shoulder. "I will have to remember that. Until then, go scout out, see what you can find." She picked up her ivory bow and quiver, suddenly very restless. She could feel the darkness creeping in around them. "This is bad..."
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Post by Dice on Jan 2, 2007 20:25:24 GMT -5
Pyro scanned the scroll she had found on her door with a steadily darkening expression. The ceremony's postponement until the evening had only heightened her anxiety, and doubtless that of the others. She crumpled up the scroll and quickly lit it with a rough pinewood match, wrinkling her nose as she caught the slight smell of sulfur. As the scroll burned in the fireplace, slowly turning to ashes, she sighed and began to absentmindedly polish her sword hilt. The grooves, shaped like tongues of flame, gave her a strange comfort as she sat, simply waiting.
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