|
|
Post by emmhwal on Feb 18, 2008 1:55:06 GMT -5
"It is I, Kat, the Purple Knight. Where are you...Lady Pyro, I presume?"
Emma grinned wearily. "Hello! We're over here. " She peeked out from behind the stack of books, looking at her fellow knight. "We can use all the help we can get. It's going to be a long night."
***
The sharp wind whistled in her ears as Emma braced herself. She stood atop the southern tower. The early morning sun had risen, and she was stretching out as she contemplated the day ahead. There was something wrong, and her heart felt heavy in her chest. Maybe she was being over dramatic. She never had been one to trust others completely, always suspicious of other's kindnesses. Not that she had a reason to.
But still, the nagging feeling did not leave her, even as Icth whined, curling up on her feet. She bent down to pet him, stroking his velveteen ears softly. It had always calmed her when she was young, and she found small solace in the motion now.
"I don't know," she explained apologetically to the mutt. The guard tower's wooden railing protected her from the wind, but she shivered slightly nonetheless. "I'm not sure about this. Am I being paranoid?"
Icth whined, staring at her with large eyes. He thumped his tail on the wooden flooring of the guard tower excitedly.
"Why should we trust them? Why would a general, who has been fighting our neighbors, come with only peace and goodwill? It just doesn't make sense."
Her face was hard and unreadable, but the dog was not fooled. The mutt stood up, staring her in the face. He growled, a deep compelling growl that made Emma look away.
"Not that again. I'm not perfect, far from it. I'm entitled to m suspicions." She stood up, gazing at the countryside, lost in thought. Emma snapped out of it when an annoyed dog began scratching at her leg, ripping the side of her pant leg, a small but deep cut appearing in her pale skin. She quickly ripped off the loose section of her pants, wrapping it tightly around the bleeding cut. "I suppose you're right. But friendship isn't my strong point, Icthy, and I doubt diplomacy is either. And you didn't have to be so mean about it," she added, finishing the knot. "Remind me to trim your nails; you need it, wild one."
With a contemptuous shake of his stubby tail, Icth trotted down the stairs, feeling somewhat unwanted, slightly annoyed, and very impatient with his owner.
Emma stretched her leg, bending her knee slowly, glad he had cut deep enough to sever the nerves so the pain was dulled. She looked out towards the sun, slowly standing up, straightening her tunic. Preparing herself for whatever lay ahead, be it war or peace. She'd be ready.
((Sorry for the godmod, but I think it was time we went back to the future present.))
|
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Feb 18, 2008 11:43:01 GMT -5
Fenrix wanted to laugh. General Alec had barely contained his anger at her speech. But quickly became serious when the matters turned to something more grave. The war, Fenrix had heard some of it, having traveled with the general himself, but it seemed like a distant problem for the eastern clans. They warred with each other, but had no other reason to worry about the rest of the world. So this came as a small surprise for Fenrix. She smiled and leaned forward a little bit, trying to listen and gather more information from the other side. She was tired of hearing the general gripe about it, time to hear the opposite side of the conversation.
|
|
|
|
Post by Dice on Feb 18, 2008 21:45:15 GMT -5
((Anybody I mention here who isn't a Knight or Pyro is a community character; feel free to use any of them.))
Pyro awoke in the library, her head pillowed on her arms, which were in turn propped on a large book. She blinked the sleep out of her eyes, yawning widely as she looked around. The shelves of books meant that she was definitely not in her room.
Oh, great. I fell asleep in the Library. Way to go, Pyro.
Immediately, she glanced out the window. The morning light was already stretching over the Castle grounds and Pyro sat up quickly, hoping that she wasn't missing anything. The Council had to be in session now, talking with the foreigners who might or might not mean harm to Dunburrow. Pyro scrambled to her feet and felt to make sure her sword was still at her side, then grabbed the sheaf of parchment that her efforts of the previous night had yielded.
Running through the halls, Pyro made her way down to the kitchen and its adjoining hall, where she knew many of the servants would be eating breakfast. If she hadn't missed breakfast and slept past noon, that is. She, Kat, and Emma had laid a few of the spells that they'd researched on the Council Room. (Well, Pyro had researched, and her fellow Knights had cast the actual spells). They were spells of protection and spells that would give warning to any Knight mages if dark magic targeted the room. Pyro could only hope that it would be enough--and if it wasn't, she planned to be prepared.
As the Black Knight burst through the doors of the servants' hall, many of those breakfasting there looked up at her and the chatter fell silent at the urgent expression on her face. She scanned the hall for the faces she was looking for.
"What's wrong, Lady Pyro?" There! To her left, one of the stablehands she was on particularly friendly terms with, Allen, looked at her with some concern. He was sitting at a table with several of his friends--all the better. Pyro took a deep breath, steadying herself. She really needed to stop taking mad dashes through the castle.
"I'm sure that by now you've heard that the King's calling Council today," she said, choosing her words carefully so as to not give away anything about the people who were entering Dunburrow. Most of the people there nodded. Word traveled fast, and Pyro raised an eyebrow slightly. "Good. I can't tell you what's going on, obviously. But I can say that it would be best if someone kept an eye on what's going on in the Council chamber. I need a few of you to stay posted nearby, and somehow send word back to the Castle immediately if anything goes wrong. Reach me or one of the other Knights--preferably me or Lady Kat, if you can--if anything goes wrong. If there is any trouble."
"We'll do so, m'lady," an older servant drawled from his place near the door. He nodded at her, and Pyro offered a tight smile.
"That's excellent. Now, are any of you mages? Know any magic at all?" Three of the younger set raised their hands. "Great. You three--come with me--and Allen, could you and your friends join us?" Pyro waited for them all to stand, most of them around her age or even a little older, and then bowed to the rest of the people there.
She led them out into the hallway, into a small storage room nearby.
"I know I can trust all of you," she said. They were people she'd joked with in the halls and grinned to at meals or sparred with during sword training. "Dunburrow could be in danger. We must protect the castle at all costs. Allen, I need you and your friends to warn the rest of the servants. It needs to be secret, but you've got to have some kind of force ready to protect the castle."
"We can do that, Pyro," Allen said, grinning easily. "You'll give us the signal to fight, then?"
"Mmhmm. I just don't want Kestrel to be caught unawares. Oh, and tell the healers to stand at the ready. As for you three--" she turned to the ones with magic. Two girls and a boy. All older than she was. "I know you probably don't have much magic, but that's more than I have. I need you to come with me to the Entrance Hall and the castle gates. There are some spells that need to be set...and I can't do it."
She looked at the few figures standing before her, and took a deep breath, letting it out slowly. She smiled. "Thank you," she said. "Thanks. A lot." And she led the way to the Entrance Hall, hoping that she had done the right thing. Hoping that she could protect her home.
|
|
|
|
Post by Bacon on Feb 19, 2008 12:28:48 GMT -5
One of General Alec's troops, the one that had first spoken to King Wolf, Sir Bacon remembered, was now smiling... if that wasn't suspicious, he didn't know what was...
There was something familiar about her smile, Sir Bacon thought, but maybe that was just his imagination...
|
|
|
|
Post by zarikrahia on Feb 20, 2008 1:12:56 GMT -5
Zari stretched, then pulled her tunic over her head. It hurt, interlacing her fingers that particular way. She needed more practice. She poked a soundly sleeping Zaha with one toe. 'Nasiven. Lazy! Geddup. Now.'
'Mrrrrrrrunh...' Zaha rolled over, shifting human in the process. Zari stifled a laugh. Ferdamei. She'd written something along Zaha's arm in silvery ink. It wouldn't be visible in cat form. Hmm. She scanned it. Most of it wasn't important. Ferdamei was always complete with her infomration. What was important, was that the Xenami Gate-guards into Dunburrow had been drugged two nights before. They had hardly remembered anyone who had passed through. She gave names.
--
The most easily acessed tower roof was the east by a long shot, all knew that. Zari sat on its roof. The wind was in her favour. She'd make it in good time. It'd be taking off and landing that were troublesome. With a resigned sigh, she pushed off, fell ten feet, then spread her wings. The weather was good. It was a nice day, but it didn't match Zari's mood at all. Xenam's Northern border wasn't far away at all. It was a day's ride, but only a 10-minute flight if the wind was favourable and there was no rain.
'HALT!' The head guard's hand went out. 'State your name and business.'
'Zari ret Xenam and Dunburrow, Crimson Knight of Castle Kestrel. I need to speak to the following: Fallow, Cei, Omivaise and Almun. It is a matter of Throne and Sword.' she said placidly. The guard blinked. 'Uhm, yes. They're in the barracks as of current.'
--
Three men and a woman stared blankly and the Knight before them. 'We remember very little. Faces, yes. Who offered bribes, yes. But not who we tried to stop.' The first said flatly. 'Some of us don't remeber some things but remember others. Cei, she could tell you who had weapons or magic. She's Sighted, she is.' he added. Cei look dubious. 'Only one had a strong mage. Nasty woman, she was. Can't for the life of me remember her name. All six parties that passed through the border had weapons, but only two had them hidden. One was one of our own, not from Riasa-Calleo. So one of them, that had hidden weapons, and wasn't Xenami, they had one member that was darkskin, but not Xenami. Eastling. Mostlike.' Cei nodded at Almun, the man that had first spoken. He coughed. 'They was from Riasa-Calleo, but they hads an Eastener. Had one of the funny names with a "icks" sound.'
Zari facepalmed. She'd forgotten how obtuse Xenami were.
((Throne and Sword is a Xenami phrase that translatated into English well, meaning "Life or Death, and linked directly to the Law Enforcement of whatever country you come from", therefore the Knights in Dunburrow, and the Cityguard in Xenam.))
|
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Feb 20, 2008 13:45:39 GMT -5
Fenrix glanced around the table, memorizing the faces. She stopped at one, a man, who stared back at her suspiciously. She gave him a placid smirk, and returning to letting her eyes wander the room. One of the high windows caught her attention. Koje perched there, preening his feathers like a regular hawk, but Fenrix knew he was watching just as intently as she was.
The Easterner had her own agenda for being here, and it had nothing to do with petty northern squabbles. But if need be, she could offer her services to the King. She knew much on General Alec's army and strength, and his weaknesses.
|
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Feb 23, 2008 0:02:15 GMT -5
Wolf's stomach sunk even lower as Alec asked him what he was going to do about the war. If anything, that was a threat. And Wolf had a kingdom--a people--to protect. He wanted dearly to glance behind him and look at his Knights, feel their reassuring gazes and endless support, but he knew to do so was to show even more weakness to the General than he was already showing. And he couldn't, he wouldn't give him the upperhand.
"Isn't there a peaceful way of settling things?" he asked. It sounded so cheesy...mmm...cheese. With eggs and a biscuit. He felt his stomach rumble, but knew no matter how hungry he was, he was in no mood for eating at a time like this.
"I don't want to send my army to battle," Wolf said with the utmost honesty. "It costs time and energy and money that could all be better spent." It sounded logical enough, he just hoped the General bought it. "If we simply sit down and talk things through, would it not be better for all of us if we abandoned our swords in favor of kindly-said words?"
Wolf prayed the General would believe his sincerity. He prayed his lack of full understanding of the wars didn't show through.
Wolf leaned forward a bit, catching Alec's eyes for hardly a second. "So, tell me, General, what are you like?" Wolf groaned at how overly intimate that had sounded and shook his head. "No, General, I mean, tell me why you're here. Certainly, you're a high-ranking general if I've ever seen one, but why you. Of all the men in your army, why did they decide to send you to talk to me? Who are you fighting for, why are you fighting, what are you fighting for?"
* * *
Makeo looked up at the Enchantrix. Glen Oak was a small fief, the forest around it inconceivably immense, and yet throughout them both, the Enchantrix was the one who was known by all. Some revered her, most feared her; some said in hushed whispers she was little more than a showy witch, while others proclaimed she could even trump the gods themselves. And here Mekeo found herself, staring up into her eyes not for the first, not even for the second, but for the third time in her lifetime.
The Enchantrix grinned, her lips curling slowly to the side. "It is ready, young one. Please, do come."
The Enchantrix turned and began walking deeper into her dark and dank hollowed-out tree of a home. Makeo obediently followed. Oh yes, she followed. She followed like a well-trained dog.
Makeo walked up to the Enchantrix in a small, circular chamber, no doubt the barren insides of one of the forest's many ancient trees. The Enchantrix herself stood opposite a large opening in the floor, around which Makeo could see the rings of the tree where thick vines did not grow and dip beneath the expanse, sink beneath the surface of the hidden, blackened well.
The Enchantrix had just finished tying a rope to one such vine and, after threading it through a system of pulleys hanging from an unseen ceiling, had began to pull it up. Slowly, ever so slowly, the vine was drawn out of the water until it hung suspended in the center of the cylindric chamber and dripped blackened water from the gigantic bulb that crowned its end. Inside it, through its greenish, translucent leaves, Makeo could see the naked body of a young girl, a young woman about her age, curled up as if still in the womb. She could see her heartbeat, her pulsing blood through the whiteness of her untouched flesh.
"Give me some hours," the Enchantrix said, "let the corpse drain entirely, then I shall give you your crystal."
* * *
Jonathan peeked sideways around the corner of the chamber before opening the door and allowing Sir Ruadhan to enter. The older man brushed some unseen dust off his shirt and took a seat.
"Sit, my boy."
Jonathan did so and looked up at the man with a furrowed brow. "What's wrong?"
Sir Ruadhan shook his head. "Many, many things, so it seems." He sighed. "It seems the King has come to meet with other conspirators of his. They seek to further desecrate our people."
"And my mum? My dad?"
Sir Ruadhan shook his head. "Still nowhere to be found. But, perhaps, if you can assist...."
"I'll do anything." Jonathan leaned forward, hands on his knees. "What do you need?"
"Stop the meeting. No matter what, you mustn't allow it to come to a peaceful conclusion."((Note: Makeo and the Enchantrix are personal characters.))
|
|
|
|
Post by Bacon on Feb 23, 2008 12:09:30 GMT -5
Sir Bacon continued to scan the troops after the one who had first spoken had returned eye contact. There didn't seem to be any ill-will in her eyes, but maybe she was hiding it well. The others, even General Alec, seemed to also be hiding their true feelings very well.
Finishing his initial scan, Sir Bacon looked at the one who had first spoken once again, and noticed she was looking up... at a hawk. Curious... When did that get there? Sir Bacon realized he had been too caught up with his own thoughts to even notice the bird's arrival. He silenced his worries and started listening to what was being said.
"Certainly, you're a high-ranking general if I've ever seen one, but why you. Of all the men in your army, why did they decide to send you to talk to me? Who are you fighting for, why are you fighting, what are you fighting for?" The king said. It was a valid point, Sir Bacon allowed, but he didn't really know how the answer to that would alter the negotiations at all.
|
|
|
|
Post by Shadaras on Feb 24, 2008 23:26:19 GMT -5
The easterner was smiling at something. Alec glared at her for a moment before returning his attention to the king, tapping his fingers on the table. His opinion was naïve. Only a child could believe that it was possible to settle war peacefully, especially when the war was over territory, over usable land. His opinion surely showed on his face, for Casandra lightly touched his arm. Alec looked at her, and she shook her head, whispering ever so softly. “Not now.”
Alec almost growled, but returned his gaze to the king. “Why am I here? Because I was the only one who volunteered. Nobody else wished to come and talk to a newly crowned boy-king.”
“Alec!” Casandra’s voice hit him like a slap, which is almost was. Alec slowly turned to her, raising an eyebrow. “You should not talk like that to someone as powerful as a king when you’re in his territory.” Alec opened his mouth, but before he could talk, Casandra continued. “Apologize. Now.”
Face flushed with fury and humiliation, Alec turned to face Wolf, opened his mouth, and then shut it again. After one last glare at Casandra, he said, quite clearly and loudly, “No.” Before the knights – or Casandra, for that matter – could attack him, he continued. “I will not apologize to someone as clearly unsuited to the art of government as you are, King Wolf.” His condescending tone on the last few words was clearly audible.
Alec stood, ready to draw his sword at the first sign of attack. Casandra would get him for this. But later. Oh yes, later. For now the negotiations were going to turn a wee bit aggressive, if he read the knights right. He smiled at the thought. Now he would see what they were made of.
|
|
|
|
Post by Bacon on Feb 25, 2008 0:16:57 GMT -5
Sir Bacon opened his mouth at General Alec's insulting remarks, but quickly shut it. The truth was, although when in Riasa-Calleo he had heard rumors of the man from Dunburrow named Wolf, he didn't really know much about the real person. He decided to leave the response to those better suited for it, the knights that had served longer under the King, and who could effectively debate the allegation.
|
|
|
|
Post by Vyt: Down, but Not Out on Feb 25, 2008 3:28:20 GMT -5
Leaning against the stone foundation of the Entrance Hall was the Pink Knight SILE, finding the time to doze off in such a quiet place. She had just slept through a bad night, having to rest in the time she felt so energetic and waking up when she was then feeling so sleepy. She hated how she had to cope with such irregular sleeping patterns, but found no reason to keep blaming them for her current problem.
SILE was just nearing her complete slumber when a set of footsteps echoed from behind her, signalling her to wake up. May I be reminded in a small note that I do not fall towards sleepiness while in the midst of duty, she thought. Readily however, the pink cat rose to meet those who were making those certain steps.
Four figures slowly appeared in front of SILE, showing two girls and a boy. The remaining figure was more familiar, as it was shown to be Pyro the Black Knight. All of them had their own magical signatures to the eyes of the catgirl.
SILE tried not to meddle in their own path but felt she should confront Pyro, and confront she did. "Does something existing around us try to bother you at least, Black Knight?" she asked, rather calling her by her code name in case she would question the friendship between them. "May I be of great assistance to you?" she added.
|
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Feb 25, 2008 12:18:39 GMT -5
Fenrix raised and eyebrow at the General's insult and decided to take the chance. "My Lord Wolf, perhaps it is just the southern ways that make General Alec ignorant and uncouth. But in Eastern culture, often the head sheik is crowned young as you are. It seems this custom goes on here. Wisdom does not always come with age." She glared at the general, then back at the king. "Perhaps you might prove that you were rightly crowned no matter your age?"
|
|
|
|
Post by Bacon on Feb 25, 2008 20:47:26 GMT -5
Eastern culture? I wonder where she's from? Sir Bacon wondered to himself. He hadn't really noticed before that she looked too very different from the rest of General Alec's troops, thinking earlier that perhaps her differing attire meant some sort of special status, like a mystic or healer, as many armies are known to have.
But perhaps there was some other reason she was with General Alec's army... a professional assassin maybe? Sir Bacon shook off the thought, although he did make a note of it.
|
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Feb 29, 2008 22:53:48 GMT -5
It hadn't taken Jonathan much to slip out of the King's chambers and steal away through the halls. His trip to the entryway was just as successful, but as he neared it, his heart began to race. Sir Ruadhan had said the path would be clear, had given him exact directions to reach the Council Chamber, but here he found himself trapped, and he hadn't even left the castle yet.
Of the small gathering, Jonathan could recognise Pyro the Black Knight, whom he had met once or twice since arriving at the castle, and that pink...that pink cat. There was something about her that just didn't sit well with Jonathan. The way she talked, her unending exuberance, her stifling formality. Something.
Maybe...maybe he could just sneak past them and not be stopped. After all, most of the Knights knew he wasn't supposed to be wandering the castle unaccompanied, but.... He sidled up to the wall, squinting to keep silent, and prayed they wouldn't notice him until it was too late....
* * *
Wolf leapt back, his hand on Wolfing's hilt as Alec maneuvered to do the same. The resounding twang of drawn bowstrings echoed through the chamber as the various knights present pulled their weapons taut upon Alec. Throbbing ran through Wolf's hand; his sword was humming, so low only he could hear, but forcefully enough it shook him through and through.
The easterner—had she said her name?—jumped up and Wolf drew his sword, a sliver of silver peeking from the sheath, stopping only when he realised the woman wasn't intent to attack him. In fact, she seemed to be defending his position.
Wolf uncurled his fingers and let Wolfing slide back into his sheath unencumbered. He clenched his fist, his hand strangely cold now void of his sword, and shook his head, straightening his back, rising to his full height.
"Alec," he spat, "give me one good reason why I should keep these Knights from killing you right now."
He had hoped, he had prayed, that Alec's reasonable demeanor would prove true, but apparently, the mask had been broken.
|
|
|
|
Post by zarikrahia on Mar 1, 2008 1:34:59 GMT -5
Zari removed her hand from her face to see all four guards looking apprehensive. 'Sorry. Can one of you give me names? Even one? More details? What they looked like? If this can help Dunburrow, I'll make sure you're well paid.' Almun, Fallow, and Cei leaned forward in their chairs, interested.
Almun hesitated, then spoke 'The leader adressed me by name, first name I mean, as though I was his friend. So, he says, 'Toam, my ol' friend, you look tired and sleepy. You should rest. An' one of the others was asleep. Omivaise, I think. He's older. Less magical resistance. Sorry, mate. Anyway, he made us sleep. The gates were locked behind them. Omivaise, thass what he said.'
Zari raised an eyebrow. 'Faotawn Omivaise, you old nutter, speak up. Last I saw you you had as many words in your mouth as stars in the sky. Why so silent now? Have you ended up dumb sometime in the last twenty-four years?' her tone was friendly enough, while inside she was slightly shaken. This was the downside of being Fae in a human realm. Last time she'd seen Omivaise, she'd been heading back into hiding. She supposed he'd thought she was her own daughter or somesuch idiocy. He'd never been smart.
Omivaise cursed. 'Zaria Aylurive Hawkeyes. I shoulda known you'd be sniffing around, once I heard one of the Dunburrow Knight, famous for looking and speaking like a born darn Xenami without being one, was a Fae. Yeah. The party wasn't that big. They got me first, then while I was succumbing to whatever they stuck under my nose they knocked Haki, Toam, and Kanite. They near-doused Myrei Nalikame because she was sleeperdrug-resistant. That's last I remember.'
Zari stood up. 'That will have to do. Thank you for your information.' She tried to curtsey, then remembered she no longer wore skirts and had to settle for a slight incline of the head.
Several minutes later, a Few citizens of Dunburrow looked into the sky, mystified by the curses coming from above them.
((Breif Explanation for Omivaise and such will be added to the OOC thread. I'd planned for Zari's nutty backstory to come into this roleplay much later, but then I realised that the list of characters was at fault and Omivaise and Shaiver had been switched around Shaiver, Cei, Fallow and Almun are all minor characters in Zari's origins story, only mentioned once or twice.))
|
|
