Knights' Roleplay - A New Day

[Dice]

"Hey now, don't forget me." Pyro had been leaning against the wall, one hand on her own long knife. She bowed quickly to Ro. "I'm Pyro, the Black Knight. Pleased to meet you, m'lady." But her mind wasn't on new arrivals. "Kat, do you think Liarre has left the grounds? If not, perhaps we should go stop her before she escapes."

[Kat]

"Hello." Kat raised a hand slowly in greeting. "I'm sorry...I can't quite bow or curtsy as of the moment. I've just been through a fight...and it's drained me, physically and magically." She turned to Pyro. "Unless we have magical wards that arrest teleportation, it is possible that Liarre may have already left. The best we can do is make sure we're ready the next time she tries anything again, or if we get another attack like this."

She winced, and clutched her side. The Purple Knight was still aching all over.

[zhunter]

Kat's soft features seemed to be recovering from tremendous strain and Shino tried his hardest not to let himself falter in front of her ,as well as the other Knights present. "Shino...You should be in bed...resting...don't worry..." she had managed through dry lips and an aching throat. "You are the one who needs much more attention than me right now, Kat." Shino said trying to have her lay still and prop her head against his chest.

She was weary and so was he. But she was going to need an immediate check-up by the healers before he was ever going to get some rest. She groaned from either exhaustion or pain, maybe both, he didn't know. Trying to get off him she fluttered back down and nestled into his white, silk shirt. He just now remembered that he was wearing nightclothes in front of his subordinates, but...surprisingly, he was OK with that. He just cared about Kat right now.

She mentioned something about going after the maid, Liarre, everyone was talking about, but Shino shook his head. "You're helping no one right now. I'm bringing you to the healers to look for any serious injuries and get some bed rest." he affirmed and brought her fully into his arms so that he could kneel now. He looked around at the Knights and saw the King, a few new Knights, older ones, and then a face he vaguely remembered. Which was weird because Shino had a photographic memory.

If he had seen this lady before he would have known who she was.

Lady Kalianne was greeting her as he rose to his feet, with the Purple Knight in his encompassing arms.

Crystal...

Was that her name? Hadn't she been gone for a while to go soul-searching or something? A Knight from the Far East as himself. As much as he would have liked to bring Kat directly away from this scene, Shino supposed that it was the polite & right thing to do to introduce himself. He extended a hand and greeted Lady Crystal with a smile for the first time in a long while, "Hello again, Crystal. I am Shino, the White Knight." He noticed that Kat was clutching her side and now remembered that she may be in more pain then visible. He had to go quickly.

[emmhwal]

Emma stared. Why would Liarre try to kill the Purple Knight?

Her first day at the castle certainly would be a... memorable one. She smirked. The whole of the Knights seemed to have congregated in this hallway. Emma didn't recognize some of them - they'd missed breakfeast, apparently. "I'm Emma, Sangria Knight," she said simply. The whole ordeal left her confused. Whose cat was that anyways?

[Shadaras]

"Shade, Bronze Knight," Shade said, studying the newcomer. "I don't seem to remember your knighting ceremony." Not that that means much, with all the confusion about yesterday, she thought. If we can forget an entire day, who's to say we couldn't forget a short ceremony? She shook her head abruptly. "I'm going to go see if I can help Ikkin with her research," she said, starting to walk off.

[Deleted]

Wolf watched the entire ordeal play out before him, half silent in shame and half silent in simply not knowing what to do now, what there was still left to be done. Was it his right to step in and take charge, or simply stand outside of the matter entirely? Where did he fall into things such as this as King?

Shade's starting to walk away startled him from his stupor, though, and he turned after her, his hand awkwardly raised for reasons he wasn't quite sure of himself. "Shade, you said Ikkin is doing research?"

Wolf took a step closer to Shade, his brow creased in curiosity. "Where were you and the others going, exactly, when I ran into you all anyways?"

[Deleted]

Ro nodded to the various statements. "Gracias, fellow knights. And I don't really remember my knighting ceremony much--not here, anyway. It was corto--short. I was knighted back near Fief Julan, my home." She heard Pyro's and Shade's introductions, then added, "I am the Amaranth Knight. The newest, I think." She gripped the staff tightly. "Lo siento, i have no magic...but maybe, if ths attacker is still around, I can help find her."

[Shadaras]

"Shade, you said Ikkin is doing research?" Wolf asked. Shade nodded. "Yes, she likely is."

"Where were you and the others going, exactly, when I ran into you all anyways?"

"We were heading to the library, to see if we could find a way to reverse the memory loss we all suffered sometime last night. Or at least, all of us in the castle at the time suffered," she said, with a glance towards Crystal and Ro.

[Kat]

"You're helping no one right now. I'm bringing you to the healers to look for any serious injuries and get some bed rest."

Kat looked up at Shino and smiled. "Thank you...but wouldn't you rather have someone else do it for you so you can rest?" But deep inside her, she wanted him to take her to the infirmary, supported in his strong arms. Why? she asked herself. Any knight could bring you there...so why would you want Shino in particular?

Right now, the Purple Knight was too weary - and feeling too lazy as well - to answer her own questions.

[zarikrahia]

The hallway was really filling up, and Zari tensed visibly, shrinking back into the wall. 'If you don't mind, I'll go now. I'm clawts- Clatso- Gah. I can't pronounce it. Claw-stro-for-Jhioan! I never did get the hang of eng-eng-Anglese after all.' Zari massaged her temples, trying not to let her hand burst into flame.

((Anglese= English. And she means Claustrophobic. XD Zari has a strong Krahian accent and can't prononce several english words. Capital, Locomative and Mistrust she also has trouble with. ))

[Crystal]

'Yes, you may. The owner'll show up at some point to collect it, probably in the next two days.'

A shame, Crystal thought regretfully. It was a pretty dagger. She would have liked to keep it. From Zari’s description, however, whoever owned the dagger would be easy enough to question… or possibly manipulate. Crystal was very good at manipulation.

She briefly wondered where Ikkin was, until the kitsune’s phoenix landed in the middle of the room and started talking. From what she remembered of life as a novice, the bird always did talk too much… and it lacked a pleasant attitude, too. She had ignored it as much as she could then, which she did now, focusing her attention back on the fiery-haired newcomer.

“Welcome to Castle Kestrel, Ro,” she said, rather quietly, “I’m afraid it’s not one of it’s best days, today.” Then she turned to follow Shade, who had said something about returning to the library. The new girl still didn’t sit too well with Crystal. Her accent was thick, and she had a hard time cutting through it.

But the white haired knight surprised her. He stood, the Lady Kat in his arms, and approached her directly, with a hand outstretched in greeting and similar words. He was from somewhere near her homeland too, by his features, and she wondered why she hadn’t seen him before. "Hello again, Crystal. I am Shino, the White Knight." And he smiled at her, a smile which seemed sincere. Delighted, she returned the smile in gratitude and took his hand. “Crystal Tumbleweed, my Lord. But I don’t recognize you.” Shino seemed eager to go, however, and she noted his clothing with a critical eye. He was staggering a little, too. “You wouldn’t prefer to be in bed? I can take your lady up to the infirmary for you.”

Kat spoke, too, supporting what she had said. Crystal focused her gaze on the Purple Knight, before flipping it back up to the man’s strained, concerned expression, and her eyes softened. Ah. “She’ll still be here with you when she’s better, my Lord,” she said, a little more gently. “You can visit her later.”

Knights were streaming into the corridor, and few were leaving. And they were all talking at the same time. Shade, who she had been about to follow, was speaking to the King about the problem of memory loss, which Crystal didn't have.

"I can take her there faster than you can."

[Tam]

"You do what you feel is most important for you, don't worry about me. It was just.." Kit almost trailed off here. "..just a recurring headache. Nothing to worry about."

Tamia hesitated for a moment, staring at him. Even she could see that there was more bothering him right now than just a simple headache. However, she wasn't one to argue right now. Through the window she could now hear distant sounds of louder voices, most notably one that snarled as a meow... or a cry?

Snatching up her swordbelt and feeling particularly paranoid about these newcomers in the courtyard, she stammered, "I-- I'm going to go down there and see what's going on." And to collect that blasted cat, she added silently. "I might need some other knights to help if those four turn out to be trouble."

She paused at the door, her belt only half-on, and gestured to the scattered piles and vases of herbs. "Um, feel free to take anything you need."

The door closed behind her with an air of finality. As she took off down the hallway, she cursed herself and added, so that only the stone walls could hear, "Sorry."

*

Oran crouched behind a cover of leafy bramble, safely hidden as he watched the spectacle before him unfold. That other black cat had first been the source of some amusement, and later disgust on his part. Pathetic, he thought as the fiery-haired girl materialized in the black cat's place. His tail twitched, and for a moment the sun, half-blocked by the shrubbery, seemed to ripple pure fire through any exposed fur it could find. His green eyes flickered. Just pathetic.

[zarikrahia]

Zari forced herself to calm down, then stood up, massaging her temples again. 'If you don't mind, I'll leave. By my standards, there isn't enough space here to think properly.' she turned and walked off. Then the coast was clear and there was an unmonitored window, she opened the window and launched herself out, her wings stretching out and catching the wind, propelling her higher, into the low clouds.

Due to that fact, Zari did not see the slight blonde figure appear in the corridor, her expression one of obvious interest. Holly Ailden turned around in a Circle. 'And to think these people built this without the earth to help them' she murmured. She turned again, facing the knights, so she could see what was going on. One had her dagger. She would have to sort that out later.

[KitClairvoyance]

"Um, feel free to take anything you need." Tamia said as she left the room, closing the door behind her in haste. Kit drew a deep breath and sighed, the day was going to be a long one indeed. He felt a little awkward, being alone in Tamia's room. Sunlight warmed his pale skin as he turned back to the window, looking again over the courtyard. The four newcomers were now accompanied by Ikkin and a redhead Kit recognised as Kat's attendant. A mage's attendant, two knights (once Tamia arrived) and a phoenix; by all rights that should be enough to handle the four newcomers if they proved to be of any trouble.

Kit took a step away from the window, there were other matters he needed to see to; the other knights could deal with this one.

The cold stone walls seemed to stare at him as he closed the door to Tamia's room behind him. He debated using a harmless demonic seal to lock Tamia's door for her, but decided that with her cat it would be too risky. Besides, there was no reason for him to suspect that anyone would try to gain access to her room.

He stood outside her door for some time, debating his next course of action. There was the matter of his clairvoyant flashes. It was unusual for him to receive two powerful clairvoyant flashes in such a short time frame, and it all pointed to Maya. Then there was the matter of his appointment as the Royal Arbiter by Wolf. As far as he was concerned, he would have preferred it if he hadn't been assigned any duties, but he was in no position to argue with the king's decision. He wondered how far this new change would affect his demonologic practices. Already people were talking about Wolf having a demonologist on his council, it wouldn't help if they knew the exact details of Kit's practices.

Kit shook his head, why couldn't he have chosen to become a druid, or at least something not as dark instead?

The silence of the corridors wrapped Kit in a veil of solitude as he made his way back to his room. He had deliberately chosen a longer route which would take him around the more frequented areas, he didn't wish to see anyone at this time.

The corridors soon gave way to the sparse, empty halls of the castle's left wing. Unlike the right wing, this section of the castle had very few windows, most of the corridors here were either lit by torchlight, or more frequently, left dark.

Kit's quarters was deep within the left wing of the castle. The only other knight whose quarters were located here was Shade's, most of the others preferred the brighter areas of the castle. The door to Kit's quarters was a simple oaken one which would open easily with a gentle push. A series of demonic seals prevented anyone else from opening the door, and if needed, to neutralise any threat.

He hesitated for a moment, unsure if he wanted to see what was inside. His clairvoyant flash had shown him a strange demonic pattern, one which was not known to him, and Maya.

Maya.

Kit pushed the door open, the well-oiled hinges moving without a creak.

Nothing.

No demonic pattern.

No Maya.

Instead, he was greeted by the soft, silvery flame of the magnesium candle which he used for light. He stepped into the cold, stale air of his room, realising how much different it was from the fresh, sunny appearance of Tamia's room. A shiver ran down his spine, the room that he stood in.. it felt impersonal. It always had. It always will. There was nothing to be gained my attaching any sentimental value in objects, or so Kristen had told him.

He walked over to the large table on the opposite side of the room. It was the only form of furniture along with a single chair and the bed which he slept on. Kristen had taught Kit the value of simplicity, or rather, the necessity for it. There was no use in having an elaborate room, if one was going to perform rituals which would tear it apart in an instant. And even more important, Kristen had told him not to feel comfortable wherever he decided to sleep. Comfort only made one drop their guard, not a wise thing to do when dealing with the demonic kind which could choose to appear at any moment.

He took a large tome, within which was recorded the various demonic patterns and chants he used. Perhaps he didn't recognize the demonic pattern in the flash, but he knew ways to find out the origin and usage of such a pattern.

He took out a paintbrush and dipped it in a flask of blood. Gently, he began to draw a simple demonic pattern on the stone floor of his room. When he was done, he laid his cards in a circle around it and sat cross-legged in the middle of the circle. Closing his eyes, he slipped into a meditative state.

"Wisest Ashtaroth, please send your guidance and your wisdom lend. Help me read with clarity and speak the truth; crone of wisdom and dark skies, Let the shapes materialize. Show me clearly what’s to come. As I will, So let it be."

Softly, Kit repeated the chant, the words floating in the air as he slipped deep into his clairvoyance.

(( For the length of time it took to get this done, I don't like this post. xD ..it doesn't do much apart from thicken the plot. ))

[Deleted]

Wolf wasn't certain where he was now. He had been mindlessly wandering the castle halls for some time, uncertain if mere hours or simply long and tiresome minutes had passed him by since the scene in the corridor only a few halls back had dispersed. He really didn't care all that much, either. It's not as if he had done anything of importance while he'd been there.

"My lord," he heard a voice from behind him.

Wolf turned with a droll sigh, his eyes coming to rest upon a stout man slightly shorter than himself was dressed in a black jerkin and dark-brown trousers and accompanied by a young boy perhaps ten.

"Yes?" the Green Knight inquired.

"I am Sir Ruadhan, from Glen Oak, your fief near Forrest Dale."

"Yes, yes," Wolf snapped brusquely, "I recall Glen Oak just fine. Now, what matter brings you here?"

The man appeared taken aback for a moment, flustered to say the least. "My lord, not the greatest of circumstances, you see."

"No," Wolf interjected, "I do not see, so, please, continue on, swiftly, perhaps?"

"Yes, well," Sir Ruadhan said, nervously wringing his hands and pulling at his collar, "Sir Julian, second knight of Glen Oak, recently...passed on. Without any next of kin in Glen Oak—he and his wife, who passed on sometime ago herself, were only children, and all of their parents are deceased—the wardship of his son passes on to you."

Wolf's face quickly became blank and he blinked in astonishment. "Come again?" he asked.

"Yes, my lord," Ruadhan repeated, "the wardship of Sir Julian's son has passed on to you; that is, Sir Jonathan here is now in your care."

Wolf looked down at the boy with interest for the first time. He had on simple clothing, a white tunic with a hunter-green wool jacket; ivory trousers, brown shoes. His bark-colored hair was flat and hung over his eyes, and his gaze was fixated upon the air in front of him.

"A son...?" Wolf repeated to himself dazedly. "I've got a...a son...?"

"Yes, well, no, not quite, my lord," the man said, still holding himself rather nervously. "Once Sir Jonathan has come of age, he will no longer be in your care. Though until that time comes, being his lord, you are his guardian by the law."

"I...I see," Wolf whispered, nodding to himself almost as if to convince himself it was true.

"Well, then, sire," Ruadhan said with a bow, "I must leave you now, return to Glen Oak as...as soon as possible. The trip here was long, and I do desire being home again." With that, the man took two steps back, turned around, and began leaving.

Wolf's mouth hung open for a moment as the man left, and then he ran after him. "What am I supposed to do with him?" he shouted towards the man.

Ruadhan turned to look back for a moment and answered, "You were a child, it should not be very difficult for you to figure out," and then turned around a corner and out of sight.

Wolf ran after Ruadhan again. "A child once? I'm hardly more than child now!"

The man, however, gave him no heed as he scurried away, and Wolf was left standing at the mouth of the hall, his sudden anger left to fade quickly to only confusion and trepidation as he turned back to face the boy.

A wardship. His wardship.

Wolf stepped hesitantly towards Jonathan. "Are you...are you hungry maybe?"

The boy was silent, and then nodded slightly.

"Then let's go get you something to eat, I guess..." Wolf walked past the boy, waving his hand after him, "This way." He took a few steps and glanced over his shoulder, but the boy hadn't moved at all and he said nothing, gave no cues as to what Wolf should do next.

"Um, alright, then," Wolf stuttered, "would you...would you like me to hold you hand?" The boy nodded, and Wolf reached out awkwardly for the boy to take his hand. "Well, then," Wolf muttered, "let's...let's go get something to eat..."