Knights' Roleplay - A New Day

[Kat]

"I sure as heck am paranoid," muttered Kat. "I mean - "

"Good morning...Kat."

Kat felt her face burn as though she had been experimenting too much with fire magic again as Shino kissed her hand. The corners of her mouth moved up to a smile, and for a moment all thoughts of paranoia were banished from her worrisome little head, like a crying child calmed by candy.

No, that wasn't the right way to describe it...

"Would you mind if I sat with you, m'lady?"

Kat was not expecting that either. But nonetheless, something in her wanted him to sit beside her...and why not?

"Of course," she answered. "And...is there anything wrong?" Even though she was rather happy to have Shino sit beside her, a part of her was starting to become paranoid again. He didn't look exactly up to par, his hair was a bit of a mess, and there was a scar on his cheek she didn't remember seeing before.

[Shadaras]

Shade was carefully ignoring most of what was going on, trying to figure out what had happened to her memory. But the sight of Shino, with his hair messed up and a new scar on his cheek, sent twinges of guilt through her, and for no reason that she knew of. What the hell happened to my memory? She was used to being able to trust her memory, not something like this.

Trying to distract herself from her memory and its weirdness, Shade looked down the table. It seemed like all of the knights who had been present last night were there. So why wasn't Wolf coming to tell them whatever was so important? Shade looked at the table, fidgeting. Waiting was getting more and more annoying, without something to distract her.

[zhunter]

((Exactly what is "up to par", m'lady? ))


Shino could clearly see the effect he had on the Purple Knight as he had kissed the back of her hand. She had smiled. He was feeling very confident at this. He still was wondering what was holding up Lord Kabe and Lord Wolf, as was his duty, but he still held precidence for Lady Kalianne. She seemed to be as happy to see him as he was to speak to her. Finally I've gained the backbone to say something other than, "How's the weather?"...

"Of course," she answered. "And...is there anything wrong?"

"Not a worry to be thought of, m'lady," Shino replied as he sat down in the seat next to her, "And I thank you for your kindness, Kat. I must ask...If you are not too busy this afternoon, would you care to take a stroll with me in the village outside the Castle?" He asked her swiftly. Much had changed in him, but he would still treat her as she was. A divine lady of exquisite power.

Anything still lingering on his former formality was thrown to the wind as he sat next to her. He was intoxicated. But he was stable. He wasn't a brazen fool to be so bold and boisterous. He still retained his composure even as he drank an cool, dark red liquid. Splashing his dry tongue as it seeped into his thirsty mouth, the fluids ran straight down Shino's warm throat. Delicious.

[zarikrahia]

Zari stared, slightly spaced out, at the ceiling, singing softly. Last nights events were in thre back of her memory, but they had, after all, happened last night. By human standards, Zari had an abnormally memory. Zaha gave Shino a slightly curious look. What the tritails was he drinking? Most Human habits eluded her completely, and now that she had to mingle with them, she had to watch, unlike her Fae friend who was obviously drifting into her old habit or making up songs on the spot.
Pyro was right. Old habit did die hard. She dug her claws into Zari's knee, but the brunette paid no attention. 'If I'm the one to throw your over board, then I would have taught you how to swim for shore...'
'Zari, please try not to fall asleep!'
'When you drown, there no one else, that;s when you find yoursel- oh. Um, whawaztha, Zaha?'

((Zari seems to Share aome more of my habits now. Less sharp, more inclined to daydream (or in some cases, fall asleep at the table)))

[Deleted]

(( My apologies for not having this here sooner. I hope it pleases everyone. ))

Sir Kabe rushed through the halls frantically. He was running late, very late, and he knew the king-- and all of the knights of the kingdom --were waiting on him, and he was ruining the event. It was times such as these that he despised being the leading knight. The king he had served under, pledged his allegiance to, was dead. What right did the new king have to his loyalty?

"Greetings, Sir Jason," he said as he ran past the Midnight Knight and came to a halt. "I would assume that you are heading towards breakfast? Well, then, please, let me show you there."

He motioned lightly for the younger Knight's to follow and led him into the Great Hall where the tables were all adorned with food. "Please," he said over his shoulder, not even certain whether or not Jason had followed him, "do have a seat and begin feasting."

Turning abruptly on his heel, Sir Kabe ran towards the curtained wall, around the Great Hall, up a small flight of stairs, and to the center of the stage. He took a breath of air and then he declared, "I now announce to you all, the King." He bowed deeply as Wolf stepped out from behind the curtain, and then he slipped away out of sight.

* * *

Wolf paced in the darkness behind the thick curtain keeping him from making his announcement. He hated having to rely upon old traditions to speak. This was his kingdom now, and there was no reason that he could not act when and where he wanted to. No, instead he had to keep his knights waiting because one knight could not properly tell time.

"I now announce to you all, the King."

Wolf stopped pacing. It was time.

He stepped out from behind the curtain and all of his worries fell away instantly. He saw the gazes of his Knights, of his servants, of his people all fixed upon him. Everyone waited in silence to hear what he had to say. They had confidence in him, and that gave him confidence in himself.

Wolf inhaled, smiled, his lip curling to the side in joyousness, and let the breath fall away. "Today is a new day," he proclaimed without thought, the words flowing with ease and contentment, pride for his nation, his people who upheld it, "today is the beginning of a new era, a new kingdom for all of us, a new nation alive and thriving in the world.

"But no kingdom, no nation can survive beneath the rule of only one man. Such a vast and expansive land is too great a place to be presided over by any single individual. And so, before you all upon this beautiful morn, I have come to announce those I have chosen to serve as my council, my companions in ruling this kingdom."

Wolf paused, his gaze surveying his knights. He had become so close to all of them that he felt saddened that there were not more seats in his council to fill. Perhaps, if the kingdom thrived and grew larger, the need for more assistance would become necessary, and he would be able to enlist the aid of all of those knights he had come to know so well.

Gathering a new breath of air, he drew his gaze back around and let his sight fall over everyone present. "To serve as my second-in-command, my right-hand man, I wish to appoint Sir Shino the White Knight to the Stewardship of Dunburrow." He eyed the White Knight, and smiled. They had always been the closest of the Knights, and it had been none other than Shino himself who had gathered them all together to travel to Dunburrow.

Wolf heard cheers and murmurs erupt in the crowd as talking began. This wasn't hard at all, and it was with ease that he continued, appointing Lady Tamia to the position of Court Marshal and Sir Kit to the seat of Royal Arbiter. The two seemed rather odd choices-- a youngling knight of sixteen and an anti-social demonologist --yet Wolf trusted in their abilities. After all, he himself was only seventeen, nearing a year older than that, and had little more experience as king than Tamia would have as Marshal. They would learn together.

And Kit's clairvoyance suited him perfectly to judgment. The fact of his demonic relationship uneased the Green Knight, yet he fully didn't understand it and he would not discriminate against that which he did not fully understand. Besides, Kit had lived in the Kingdom far longer than he had, and ergo the Grey Knight would know what the laws of Dunburrow should be.

Wolf went on to appoint Lady Kat as the Royal Archmage-- he considered them lucky to have such a powerful mage in their midst wishing to master knighthood to bolster her prowess --and Lady Shade as the Royal Envoy. He didn't know how often, how soon, rather, they would need to deal directly with foreign nations, yet gathering intelligence, part of her duties as Envoy, could certainly be needed much sooner than he hoped they would be.

The crowd's ever-heightening murmurs and cheers were beginning to grow unnerving as Wolf announced that Lady Ikkin, a loyal Knight and friendly persona, would be filling the last council seat, that of Court Magistrate. And then, although he was so near the end that he could taste it, he couldn't wait any longer to be free of this audience, to be free of the hundreds of eyes still transfixed upon him.

Wolf simply could not explain it. He had been fine, speaking from his heart flawlessly, yet something dark had befallen him, and it had disrupted his contentment. Suddenly, he recalled being attacked in the hall the night before, and this blurred memory-- seemingly come from nowhere --both upset him and caused his thoughts to falter.

"I have chosen these Knights with trust," he said, speaking up after his momentary pause, "and it is my trust that I now bestow to them. With their counsel, I shall be a greater king. And with their wisdom and efforts, together we shall all be a greater kingdom."

Wolf glanced quickly over the crowd, now clearly bursting with furious muttering and cheers. Wolf's heart began beating faster. Who had attacked him, the night before? Why could he remember nothing more-- and what had even prompted the memory to return?

Wolf shook the thoughts away, determined to finish without looking foolish. "I bid to all a good day; may the land of Dunburrow never falter." He bowed slightly to the crowd, and then stepped away, through the curtain and into the darkness of the room behind it. He needed to speak with his Knights, not merely his council, but all of them, together.

He left the darkness, taking a short passageway back into the Great Hall, and began towards them immediately.

(( To read more about the council and the council members' duties, click here. ))

[Kat]

[shadow=purple,left,300]((Up to par just means...you know, up to the usual standards, fine, all right, etc. XD))[/shadow]

"Not a worry to be thought of, m'lady. And I thank you for your kindness, Kat. I must ask...If you are not too busy this afternoon, would you care to take a stroll with me in the village outside the Castle?"

Kat nodded, keeping her smile. But if her heart had its way, she would be frowning instead, weighed down by worry. Still...why was she so worried? Shino was a strong, able knight. He knew how to handle himself just fine, and unlike her, he didn't have to lean on magic like a crutch. Sure, she was learning how to outgrow that old habit of hers, but it wasn't that easy.

But when he asked her to come with him, Kat felt a flutter of excitement bubble up inside her. Maybe she really was just being paranoid...still, she knew better than to let her guard down. Or to ask Shino if he was asking her out.

"Why...I'd love to," she answered. "That would be nice. Of course."

Their little conversation was interrupted by the arrival of their king. Kat sat up straight, listening to his every word as he told them about the establishment of a council - especially as he announced her as part of it. The Royal Archmage. Not only was it something that she knew she could handle, it had a nice ring to it.

Before the Purple Knight could stand up and express her gratitude and honor, he was gone, possibly to join them for breakfast. She would thank him later.

[Dice]

The Black Knight grinned at her fellow Knights and friends after the king's speech. She knew, with a feeling of pride swelling in her heart, that her comrades would deifinitely serve their positions well, and she would be honored to carry out their plans with her sword.

She did wonder, though, why Lord Wolf had made no mention of the strange events of the previous evening, at the coronation. Out of the corner of her eye she saw him enter the room, presumably to speak to the knights, and she turned slightly in her seats. Perhaps now an explanation would be given.

[KitClairvoyance]

"As you can see, I look and feel differently than yesterday. I don't know what it is, but it feels...supreme."

Kit personally thought the White Knight had too much to drink the night before, woke up on the wrong side of the bed this morning, put his toothpaste on the wrong side of the brush, and tried to wear his shirt as his pants, but he wisely kept himself from saying anything. It wasn't like he could say anything if he wanted to anyway, for not long after Shino had finished speaking, he was too busy keeping his drool in as his eyes found Kat.

He may look and feel differently, but he's still acting very much the same. Supremely lovesmitten.

Kit sighed, his stomach was not making this any easier for him. He turned away from the inevitably 'shippy scene between Shino and Kat to focus on the still clean plate in front of him. It wasn't that Kit had anything against relationships developing between knights, romantic or otherwise, but he just didn't think that this was the time or place for such acts. Then again, it could be that he was just getting irritable because of his rather uncomfortable predicament.

"What was that about? Shino seems... odd... this morning. Speaking of which... you looked like you'd seen a ghost for a moment there... did you see something? Er, probably not a ghost, but... you know what I mean, right?"

Kit was surprised that Ikkin actually noticed that he had spaced out for a breif moment before that. He wondered if it was because it was obvious that he was disturbed by what he saw, or that Ikkin had been keeping an eye on him. Neither explanation really was of much comfort to him, he wasn't used to letting his feelings slip out onto his expressions, and neither was he used to having someone actually being concerned about him enough to notice him spacing out for what was practically a fraction of a second.

Luckily for Kit, he didn't have to answer Ikkin's question as the curtains finally parted to allow Wolf to step onto the stage. Yet, before Wolf started speaking, Kit felt his stomach take a turn for the worse as it began to spasm irregularly. He was thankful that Wolf's speech had caught everyone else's attention, this was one time when he really, really didn't want to be seen by anybody.

"I appoint Sir Kit the Grey Knight."

Kit barely caught the words as Wolf announced them. Appointed? Appointed as what? Kit cursed the infirmary's attendant, he couldn't take this for much longer. First the potion, then the clairvoyant vision.. now him being appointed as some position which he just happened to miss the title of.. if Kristen hadn't taught him the downfalls of losing one's temper, he would have disappeared from the Great Hall by now.

By the time Wolf had finished his speech and had retreated back behind the curtains, the Great Hall was filled with all manner of excited murmurings. Kit however, was filled with worry. And pain. Lots of pain. And hunger. Mostly hunger by now, since all that was before him was the remnants of breakfast. Breakfast which he couldn't eat because of some potion gone wrong.

First things first though, he certainly couldn't go on any longer if his stomach kept acting up like it did. Though, he wasn't eager to go back to the infirmary to get treated for something they caused. There were other healers among the ranks of the knights anyway.

And he knew just the person. He heard that Tamia was studying herbology, and Ikkin mentioned earlier that certain kinds of tea could help. And as much as he loathed to turn to another person for help, he didn't have much choice. He turned to the Orange knight who was seated next to him,

"Lady Tamia? If you don't mind, I need your services for a while."

((Kit doesn't really like the way this post turned out. I'm going to blame a lack of sleep this time. ))

[Ikkin]

Kit didn't have time to answer Ikkin's question before Wolf finally appeared on stage to give his speech. Ikkin sighed; it seemed that any time that she was close to learning more about Kit, something conspired to keep him from responding. Perhaps she should just stop asking, before he got annoyed... but, for some reason, she found that that didn't seem so appealing. Though having him annoyed at her would probably be worse.

She shook herself out of her thoughts and tried to listen more intently to Wolf's speech. "And so, before you all upon this beautiful morn, I have come to announce those I have chosen to serve as my council, my companions in ruling this kingdom," Wolf said, then paused for a moment.

Considering all the confusion, Ikkin really didn't think it was such a beautiful morning, but that thought left as she heard about the council. Her ears perked up at this. The council... She'd totally forgotten about that, and wondered who would be chosen.

"To serve as my second-in-command, my right-hand man," Wolf continued, looking towards Shino, "I wish to appoint Sir Shino the White Knight to the Stewardship of Dunburrow."

Ikkin really wasn't surprised at this - Wolf and Shino were like brothers as it was, so it only made sense that he would get the position of second in command. She momentarily wondered whether, considering how oddly he was acting this morning, he was still sane enough for such an important position, but she put the thought out of her mind. Sir Shino was trustworthy, and would do a good job as the Steward. Even if he was a bit eccentric sometimes.

Ikkin listened as Tamia, Kit, Kat, and Shade were given council positions as well. Wolf seemed to be a bit unnerved as he moved to continue, and Ikkin wondered what was wrong momentarily, at least until she heard what he said.

"To fill the seat of Court Magistrate," Wolf said, "I appoint Lady Ikkin the Blue Knight."

Ikkin didn't pay much attention to the rest of the speech. She had been chosen for the council...

She wasn't really sure how to take this news. Her knowledge of history (at least, the way it was taught in her home country of Foxfire) and politics from before she had come to Dunburrow had given her a low opinion of people with power in general - either they were dangerous, incompetent, or were people who she saw more as people than as an authority. Wolf was of the latter category, of course - he might have been King, but he treated his subjects as equals rather than as inferiors - and so being appointed by him wasn't really a bad thing. But, she didn't really think it was something that she should be happy about.

That didn't stop her from being happy about it, though, which was what had led to the conflict.

In any case, she wasn't about to let her own feelings get in the way of carrying out her position the best she could. And hopefully staying the same person while she did so.

By the time Ikkin snapped herself out of her thoughts, she found that Kit had left and was talking to Tamia, and Wolf had left the stage and was walking towards the knights. It wouldn't do to let him know her misgivings...

She straightened up and turned towards Wolf, wondering whether he had more to say, or had just come down for breakfast.

[Shadaras]

"I now announce to you all, the King." Shade looked up from the table to the stage where Wolf was to speak from. All the conversations that had been going stopped, and the King appeared. "Today is a new day," he said. "today is the beginning of a new era, a new kingdom for all of us, a new nation alive and thriving in the world.

"But no kingdom, no nation can survive beneath the rule of only one man. Such a vast and expansive land is too great a place to be presided over by any single individual. And so, before you all upon this beautiful morn, I have come to announce those I have chosen to serve as my council, my companions in ruling this kingdom."

Shade listened to him, not particularly caring who was appointed to what until Wolf said "To the seat of Royal Envoy, I appoint Lady Shade the Bronze Knight." Shade stopped listening at that point, shocked. Why her? There were defiantly knights better suited to diplomacy. Though intelligence gathering ought to be fun.

She wished that all she had to do was spying, though.

[Jason]

Jason followed Kabe into the room akwardly. Smiling, he looked aorund the table. Taking the nearest spot, he smiled. "So anything we should be discussing?"he asked, reaching for some jam. In the process he tipped over a cup of juice, sending it spilling over that table. "[Poopies and poppycock]!"he murmured, diving for a napkin to clean the spill up with. This proved to be useless as the jam had fallrn and mixed in with the juice. Clapping when Kat was nodded, he looked around. "Well? Am I xee only one who's going to croncragulate our comrades?"he asked with a whispher.

((Ikkin modly note: No swearing in posts, please. ^^; The filters don't catch everything))

[Tam]

For a moment, Wolf's words didn't quite reach Tamia's ears. There were a few casual glances in her direction as her name was announced, and then everyone's attention shifted to the next knight on the list. It was only then that the truth of those words hit her with full force.

Feeling slightly ill, she rested both arms on the table in front of her to steady herself. The council? She turned the thought over in her mind, utterly incredulous. The Marshal?

Oran was on his paws. You're not even seventeen! You have to your name only one battle fought as a knight, and they're putting you in charge of the army?

The Orange Knight suddenly felt very small, and very young. A deep breath, albeit a shaky one, helped to clear her thoughts, but did not erase the reality of her new duty to the Knights, to her King, and to her country.

You don't have to go through with this! Tell them it's madness, the cat yowled in alarm.

"I can't," she said very quietly.

"Lady Tamia? If you don't mind, I need your services for a while."

She jumped at the voice beside her. For a moment, she had forgotten that there were still other knights around her -- some of whom were also being introduced to new positions. Spinning to face the Grey Knight, she managed to stammer, "Of... of course, Sir Kit; what do you need?"

[zhunter]

"Why...I'd love to," she had answered. "That would be nice. Of course."

Kat, the most beautiful woman he had ever known, seemed to be a having a struggle within herself after she had said this. Of course he was glad she had said yes, but not because she was obligated to go just because she had or duty. He didn't want to force her to make a decision if she didn't feel the same way about him as he did of her.

Finishing off the rest of his meal, Shino was about to turn to speak with Kat about this when Sir Kabe came in front of the curtain, introducing King Wolf. Finally, Shino thought to himself, I was afraid Wolf would worry himself out of his mind. He listened to Wolf talk about the current state of the land along with the rest of the Knights and quite expected what was to come next.

"To serve as my second-in-command, my right-hand man, I wish to appoint Sir Shino the White Knight to the Stewardship of Dunburrow." Wolf said.

The two had always worked closely together in every project and problem of Dunburrow, but often thought that such Knights as Sir Kabe or Lady Ikkin would have made better choices. Of course, looking around the table, he could see the other new Council Members were concerned, excited, or perplexed as to why they were now charge of at least one large function in the kingdom.

Even Kit, the Grey Knight, showed anxiousness and doubt on his face at Wolf's words. Of course that may be due to him clutching his gut like he was keeping his innards from falling out. Something he had not noticed before now was that Ikkin seemed to show worry for the Clairvoyant, more so than she had ever shown anyone that he had observed. Of course no one had ever comforted Kit, because no one really knew of his past.

He was a very secluded man. Kept to himself and never let anyone into the before. Only the after.

"To head our army and our defenses, I appoint Lady Tamia the Orange Knight to the seat of Court Marshal."

"To the seat of Royal Arbiter," he said, "I appoint Sir Kit the Grey Knight."

"I appoint to the position of Royal Archmage Lady Kat the Purple Knight."

"To the seat of Royal Envoy, I appoint Lady Shade the Bronze Knight."

"To fill the seat of Court Magistrate, I appoint Lady Ikkin the Blue Knight."

Shino had smiled after Wolf went offstage. These were brilliant choices. They all had the will to do what they were tasked to do somewhere in their being. Wolf had been absolutely sure of it. All talents, abilities, and powers would be shown in everything they do. In the jist of it, they all had been chosen for greater things. All would succeed.

[Kat]

"Congratulations," Kat whispered to Shino, smiling brightly. "You really deserve to be the king's right hand." With a short laugh, she added, "If it were me, I'd probably screw everything up. I'm probably less likely to screw things up when they're about magic."

Still...I wish I wasn't taught to lean on magic so much when I was a kid...what did my parents have against knights, anyway?

Kat wanted to ask Shino what he wanted with her - if it really was a date and nothing more serious - but she thought better of it. It was probably not exactly the most ladylike thing to do.

[emmhwal]

Emma had been busy stuffing her face with biscuits when Wolf made his announcement. She had listened, quietly, and smiled. From the little she knew of her fellow knights, it seemed like he had made very good choices.
"Well? Am I xee only one who's going to croncragulate our comrades?" said another knight as he clapped. Emma had been thinking of doing the same, and grinned.
"No, we're just in shock, methinks." Emma looked at the mess that he had inadvertenly made. "I'll go grab a few cloths from the kitchen," she said as she excused herself.
I hope I can find it without being lost... again...