The Knights' Roleplay - War Ascending

[Deleted]

Welcome to the Knights' Guild's third roleplay - War Ascending. Come join us!

Welcome to Dunburrow.

The kingdom of the legendary Knights of the NTWF who protect this land and patrol the entire country, protecting the innocent and rooting out the dark and the twisted.

War looms in the distance. Battle cries rise to greet the morning as our forces gather.

Is this your first time roleplaying? Do you need some help getting into the game and understanding such concepts as NPCs and what you're supposed to do here? Well, worry not, my faithful Knight, for there is salvation to be found in this post. Read it, but weep not, for in no time at all, you'll be a roleplaying pro.


Roleplaying guidelines:
To have a cohesive and productive roleplay full of action and depth, we ask that all roleplayers follow these suggestions:

1: Be kind to others: don't godmode (control others' characters).
2. Be considerate: Don't dominate the roleplay. We want some semblance of equality here.
3. Try to have your posts be at least 150 words long. Nothing happens if we post one-liners.
4. Try to keep your OoC (out-of-character) and serious discussion in the proper thread, not here.
5. Spellcheck your posts and double-space your paragraphs. It makes it easier for all of us.

A list of all NPCs may be found here; further guidelines and a verbal map of Dunburrow can be found here.


Roleplay summary:
The present summary will be updated as necessary for your roleplaying convenience.

12:18:07: The Knights meet in the War Room to discuss the matter of an approaching caravan, led by the general of an army recently hung on conquering the kingdoms and countries surrounding Dunburrow. It is decided, when the General arrives, the negotiations shall take place in the Council Hall, and a group of Knights prepare to consult their contacts in the city. In the caravan itself, General Alec consults his seer, Casandra.

12:27:07: After the meeting is dismissed, the Knights set out to prepare for the caravan's arrival: Zari, Fuzz, and Bacon to the city to meet with their contacts; Tirilia to recover the shards of the Octiron Mirror; Shade to the inn to reserve rooms for the caravan; Pyro, soon joined by Emma, to the library to find spells and tactics to help fortify the castle; and Wolf to check on Jonathan. Outside the city, the caravan reaches the outer wall and sets up camp for the night; Casandra approaches Fenrix with questions of her allegiance.

01:04:08: Morning has come, and General Alec, accompanied by Casandra, Fenrix (by his request), and a small number of his attendants, begin towards the city's gates. In the castle, King Wolf gathers in the throne room with the Knights who will accompany him to the Council Chamber to meet with Alec.

02:22:08: The Knights and caravaners meet in the Council Chamber; negotiations are tense. Zari lets a handful of invisible spirits roam the castle and continues investigating matters of national importance.

04:23:08: The negotiations end in a heated argument, the caravaners demanding Kit in exchange for peace, and the Knights saying they can't have him. Alec and co. run out of the Chamber, abducting Jonathan (Wolf's ward) and fleeing into the city while spectral clones depart for the caravan as a distraction. Kit calls Wolf stupid, so Wolf exiles him (XD), and Shade goes to the caravan to tell them they can have their prisoner while Pyro follows Alec into the city. Meanwhile, Fenrix offers Wolf her services and gets knighted while Kat fortifies the castle. At the caravan, Jorn and Ricard see Shade's arrival and declare she's a demon. MURDER HER!

Here, the roleplay died. R.I.P.

07:29:08: REVIVE! REVIVE! Get a crash cart in here, stat!

10:18:08 (interesting number...10 plus 08 makes 18 in the middle, XD): After a brief bout of revival—in which Midknight (a Kougra assassin intent on killing the King) comes to town; Shade forewarns Jared, the caravan's acting head, of impending doom, then perches on the city gates; Kit continues his departure from the city, overhearing rumours of dissent among the citizens before reaching the gates of Shade; Alec ties Jonathan to a fountain, as per Casandra's orders, and then heads back to the caravan; Shade snogs Kit; and Kat pops up alongside SILE at the Council Chambers—the RP promptly dies again, until Lord Wolf shamelessly revives it (after having already been its cause of death) by admitting to Lady Kat that he has made a terrible mistake.

12:31:08: Kat casts a truth spell on Midknight to assess his honesty, then Wolf sends him to retrieve Kit: He accepts. Meanwhile, Shade has a run-in with Alec and Casandra before finding Jonathan and taking him to Wolf. Wolf regrets exiling Kit (again) and sends his Knights on various tasks (Bacon and Fenrix to find Pyro; Kat and SILE to massage Kit) before storming off with Jonathan and Shade. Meanwhile, Zari cleans her bathroom. In the caravan, Casandra meets Kit and offers him a deal--his allegiance in exchange for the location of his familiar, Maya. He says nothing. SILE possesses Ricard, a guard, and Midknight finds Kit at last, but the arbiter refuses to return before the two are discovered and Midknight teleports back to the others. Jorn, Ricard's brother, gets suspicious and runs off to Casandra, while Wolf and Shade arrive at a suspicious doorway as well. Dun dun DUN.

07:06:09: Shade stands guard while Wolf explores the room of retired knight Ruadhan, whom we later learn was exiled by the last king and has returned to enact his revenge. Shade calls Wolf insolent and storms off, so he takes Jonathan and hides in the library, where he discovers the true heir of Dunburrow. After finding him, Wolf crowns Sir Kabe the King of Dunburrow before being found by a figure from his past, whose presence result in his fleeing the kingdom while Kabe causes Ruadhan to do the same. Meanwhile, as the roleplay grinds to an end amid personal epilogues and future planning, Shade, the Envoy of Dunburrow, does her duty and alerts the kingdom of their new king.

[Deleted]

Lord Wolf, King of Dunburrow, sat at the helm of the massive stone table in the center of Castle Kestrel’s war room. His partially-gloved hands moved over the table’s cold surface, his bare fingers feeling the contours of the map of the kingdom and its surrounding lands engraved into its surface while his eyes scanned the gathered Knights seated around the table. He recognized many of his loyal and trusted comrades, though in the dim lights and with the dire matters pressing against his mind, he couldn’t be certain they were all there or not.

Wolf felt the room growing tense and restless and he knew he had to say something soon. But what to say? There was so much to say—so much had gone on in the kingdom and in all the world this past week that he had no idea where to begin. In all his years lording over his smile fief in Glen Oak, he’d never imagined he’d ever be king of anything. And even if he had had such wild thoughts then, he’d never imagined so much could possibly go wrong—or go on at all—in only a week of his reign.

“There’s only one place to begin,” he said at last, “and that’s the beginning itself.” He sat back and sighed. This wasn’t as easy as he had thought it’d be. But all it was was reciting facts he’d memorized by now. All he had to do was take a deep breath and say everything he’d already rehearsed. “As I’m sure most of you have already heard, about a week ago, news of an unidentified army in the west began trickling into Dunburrow. The army has been conquering the small territories outside the kingdom and it’s our fairest assumption they mean us no good.

“This morning, a messenger arrived with word that one of the generals of the army is heading our way. He—or she, the letter did not specify—said their group is to arrive tomorrow morning for what they claim to be peaceful discussion.

“In the eve of their coming,” Wolf said, “we must prepare ourselves for whatever they may bring. We have to fortify the castle, ensure we are in shape for battle or assault, and guarantee ourselves that we are fit to receive them if they prove, in fact, to be peaceful. If they are not, we may have a war on our hands.”

That was as far as he’d been able to rehearse before the Knights had begun arriving and he’d had to remain silent. A pit opened in his stomach and he felt his entire being drop from inside him. He thought of Jonathan, the small boy who’d become his ward near the time when everything else had begun happening. Wolf hoped he’d be safe, whatever happened.

Wolf felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end. The tenseness of the room seemed to lift and waver for a moment. It’d felt this same way a week before when, in this very room, Sir Kit the Grey Knight had announced having sensed a presence in the castle. Since then, Kit had been seen only briefly while he tracked this being and researched it. Wolf hoped his return would arrive soon: An uncontrolled presence in the castle could prove disastrous with their coming visitors.

Wolf paused and wondered briefly if anything that had happened during his coronation could have warned them of this. None of the Knights present for the ceremony could recall more than vague, dream-like memories of the event, just as if their minds had been swept clean that very night. He wondered if the presence Kit had sensed was responsible for any of this or not.

Wolf took a breath and leaned forward. “Any questions? Comments? Suggestions?” He wanted to get this meeting over as soon as possible. “If not, we should get to preparing for tomorrow as soon as possible.”

[fuzzbucket]

"Yes, I have one." Sir Fuzz said briefly. "Do you have a plan for battle if our visitors intention's aren't so peaceful?"

The new knight tapped his fingers on the table nervously. "And do you think that the enemy would not be hostile to us even though it destroyed some of the neighboring kingdoms?"

[Shadaras]

"Question and suggestions," Shade said, looking up from the table at Wolf. "How many of us are going to meet them for negotiations, and where will the negotiations be held? I suggest trying not to allow them in the castle if it's possible, or at least limiting the number that we allow inside. If there are too many of them, then they might be able to turn traitor and capture a member of the council as a hostage."

She turned her eyes on the knights, studying them. In all probability, they could destroy a small force, like the group that was to come and talk. But against an army, she wasn't sure if Dunburrow's forces could hold strong. Looking back at Wolf, she continued. "And I suggest that there be no more than ten knights in the group that meets with the general. I will be one of those knights. As Royal Envoy, it is both my right and my duty to insist upon being part of that group. My lord, do you object to any of this?"

[zarikrahia]

((May we post? If not, I'll delete this.)

'Xenam, as far as I know, is still clear and on our side. My contacts have never failed me, and the last time I spoke to one of them she seemed perfectly fine, wasn't concerned. However, another has informed me of unrest in the southwest of Dunburrow, where it joins Xenam and our southern neighbour.' Zari interlaced her fingers and pressed her forehead aginst them.

'Although, I do believe this Riasa-Calleo Sir Bacon has spoken of lies to the west of the Twilight plain, the west most part of Xenam.' She tugged astrand of her hair thoughtfully. 'Let us hope their intent is peaceful. I wouldn't like to have to draw my sword after the strange...fuzziness...that has erased our memories earlier this week. If they are behind it, I hate to think what they could do.' Zari folded her arms and leaned back in her chair, having expressed her view, and fell silent, watching her comrades

[Bacon]

'Although, I do believe this Riasa-Calleo Sir Bacon has spoken of lies to the west of the Twilight plain, the west most part of Xenam.'

Bacon nodded, sorrow entering his earlier neutral expression,"It does... or did. I saw a good deal of scenery when fleeing through Xenam, but sadly, too few knights, and very few as strong as those I see before me. Let's just hope the Xenam defenses are stronger than what little I saw with mine own eyes."

Turning his head slightly, to directly adress the king, he added, "I believe, although I could be mistaken, that the leader of this army happens to be the very one that killed mine brethren. If so, even allowing only him inside these walls could spell disaster for us all... I've been going over in my mind the way he- or was it she?- fought, trying to remember a weakness of any kind, but it has thusfar eluded me."

[fuzzbucket]

"I agree with Shade." Sir Fuzz said cautiously, "I also say that we should check into Zari's contacts."

Sir Fuzz kept nervously shuddering as he thought about the possible attack on the castle. "I don't like this but I'll follow you into any battle."

[zarikrahia]

Zari frowned at Sir Fuzz. 'I've been using their information for nearly a year now and they haven't failed me yet. I can take you to meet Malcivie and Vedimet, who are my main sources that live in Dunburrow. I have others who aren't so easy to track down. The last time Ferdamei had information for me, she wrote it on the wall of my bathroom in soap. I have five as of current.' She went silent for a few seconds, wondering what the castle would think if they knew about her 6th contact.

She rested her chin on her interlocked fingers and commented 'Personally, I think It would be best to meet the representatives outside the castle. Letting them in would be waving a flag emblazoned with "Come snoop around our castle!” No. It would be best to meet them in a place where we have the advantage. We shouldn't even meet them within the city. That would put us in a potentially bad position. I do not think it would be wise. I don’t think my fellow Knights want an enemy within our castle' the Crimson Knight went quiet, staring around the table with amber eyes.

((Vedimet is a retired Xenami Knight, Malcivie is a perfume trader from the same place, and Ferdamei is an ex-intelligence collector in the Twilight Plain who makes it her duty to sift through gossip and find out the truth. I'm saying this because Zari has told other Knights about these informants, and taken messages from them in front of other Knights.))

[Tirilia]

Contrast to the tense atmosphere of the council room, Lady Tirilia- the Scarlett Knight, the Knife in the Dark- lounges against the wall closest to the door. Her arms folded casually, turning a pale but perfectly manicured hand this way and that before expressionless eyes. It is however evident that she is listening closely to the councils of her fellow Knights with regards to this new threat.

Since her brief participation in the so called Guild War, and her subsequent and unexplained disappearance, she had returned somewhat different. Quieter, less emotional, less... friendly. Although her outfit remains the same, and her precious slip of red silk remains ever across the lower half of her face, the red sheen to her eyes has become more apparent.

Whilst her return had been greeted warmly enough, for all had thought her dead, her cold response had raised some eyebrows.

Having earned the trust of King Wolf and the other knights during the Guild War, she has a place in the council, although with her current disposition, some may begin to ask themselves.. Why?

"I concur with Lady Zari," her quietly modulated voice speaks up, "to invite them into the castle would be nothing short of foolish. If I may venture a suggestion... We meet them at sea, where neither has the advantage, and discussion may take place without the risk of open battle or fear of ambush."

[fuzzbucket]

Sir Fuzz pondered over these ideas and said, "Yes, meeting at sea is a good idea. Zari, I did not mean it that way... I meant that one, or two knights should find your contacts and see what they know." Sir Fuzz looked around the room hoping that this would not lead to war.

[zarikrahia]

'I agree with Tirilia and with Fuzz. Sea would put neither us nor them at an advantage. I say that is what we do. My contacts are difficult to find- I will show you them and ask if there's anything new they can tell me.' She furrowed her brow, trying to recall who she could locate and who she couldn't.

'Three are in the city at this moment. The other two are in Xenam, where I can't find them, since they're both nomadic. Vedimet, Malcivie, Ferdamei, Alektamn, and Tovy. Vedi, Tove, and Civie are in the city as of this moment.' She stopped, thinking it through. 'With your permission, Your Majesty, I'll take another Knight, maybe two if they can be spared, and visit these three, and if I can catch Ferdamei, her too, since I'm due for an update.' Zaha mrowled from her position on the back of Zari's chair. 'Today or tomorrow, it's been another Waxing Crescent.'
'Thank you.'

[Deleted]

Wolf nodded along with his Knights as a handful of them put in their thoughts. He wished he had a quill and some parchment, maybe even one of those new quills he'd heard about that had been enchanted to hold the ink inside them so an ink vile wouldn't have to be present for its use.

He flicked the palm of his left hand and cursed himself for letting his mind wander. This was war, not a simple storm one could ignore till it passed. Action had to be taken. Decisions had to be made.

Wolf eyed Sir Fuzz, the Emerald Knight. He had been the first to speak, the first to ask what was probably resting on everyone's mind. "Yes," Wolf said, "I do believe they will be hostile even towards us. Despite our size, we are a new kingdom. Dunburrow has been standing for centuries, but I am a new king and all of you are my new Knights." Wolf shook his head and suppressed a sigh. "We—we still have our weaknesses to work out."

He was silent a moment. Then, he leaned forward across the table and put his finger directly on top of Castle Kestrel. "This is where we are," he said and moved his hand to the right, towards the east, "and this is the sea." He sat back and took a breath. "But the general is moving in from the south. There's no sea between us. Only land. And, we can assume, they are proficient fighters on land.

"For that reason, I want to avoid meeting them too far from the city. Our strength lies here. The walls of our city are strong, but in the open fields, we have no defenses but the shields we carry.

"I doubt they would bring an entire army to meet us. Word of their arrival would reach us too soon. A head-on attack of that magnitude would never succeed." Wolf looked towards Sir Bacon, recalling his concerns. "I also doubt they would send their strongest. They probably foresee this meeting as a way to gain an ally or establish a foe, a political meeting, not a military one.

"And so, I do not think their caravan will be more than a few dozen strong. If we allow them to set up camp outside the walls, we could only allow in the general and his closest attendants to meet us directly." He turned to Shade. "We can meet in the Council Hall, outside of the castle and nearer the city walls, with plenty of forces if they turn on us. And, of course, Shade, I will want you present."

That left only one matter still at hand, for the moment, at least. Zari and her contacts. Wolf hadn't met any of them in person, but some other Knights had. Besides, he trusted Zari, and so he trusted her contacts. "Yes, Zari, do meet your contacts, see if they've heard anything new since you last spoke. Take one knight, two if you absolutely must, perhaps Sir Fuzz, if no one else volunteers? The rest of us must stay here and continue our preparations."

[Deleted]

"Can't You westerners move any faster?" A sharp voice, laced with a thick eastern accent demanded. Her annoyed words went unheeded. Obviously. "Hava, I don't know why I decided to travel with these people. I could already be in Dunburrow by now." The horse's rider leaned over her saddle horn and patted the horse's sweaty neck.

The rider sat lightly in the saddle, dressed in dark leather and mail armor. The finest leather made by the nomadic clans of the East. Olive brown skin made her stick out from the westerners, who's fair skin glistened with sweat. Obviously they weren't used to hot weather.

Pity. Fenrix of the Clan Akaba thought, a bit smugly. She was used to worse weather than this. Born into the harsh sands, this was nothing. Although it was dreadfully boring to be going so slow.

Perched on her shoulder was a peregrine falcon, it's keen brown eyes scanning the area for small rodents. It chirped softly and ruffled it's feathers. "Go, fly Koje. Scout ahead, then find yourself a tasty little morsel." The bird shifted it's weight at the command and flew from the woman's shoulder, quickly flying higher and farther than the slow moving caravan.

"At least one of us won't be bored out of our skull." Fenrix grumbled, tucking a lock of black hair back behind her ears. One more day and she'd be in Dunburrow. Towards a new life.

[fuzzbucket]

"I'll go. I could use some field experience." Sir Fuzz said, "I'm ready to go as soon as needed any way." He took a sip from a drink in front of him. "If you agree of course."

[zarikrahia]

'Yes, sir. Any volunteers? I only, really, need one to witness the information being exchanged.'

She looked breifly around the table, then looked at the map, mentally tracing the quickest route. She'd have to take the usual route, but slower, so whichever Knight volunteered to come wouldn't be confused my the seemingly pointless shortcuts and constant U-turns. She'd been pursued more than once and had adopted the strange path to shake anyone who bothered to follow her off.