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Post by Thorn on Jul 10, 2024 1:39:01 GMT -5
Chapter 2Who Here Has Saved Your Life?"You there! Where am I? What have you done with my King?"
Cael looked back at Gwyne, who was already being soothed by Kay's kind hands. The way Kay then looked at the fey was anything but kind: he seemed scared, perhaps even angry. Cael found himself unable to respond. Kay had saved his life once- did he now regret it?
Fortunately Cerys cut in and clarified that no, he was not this King Arawn, but rather Queen Caelia. Her sharp voice brought Cael to his senses. He realised he had done nothing to conceal his own fear and quickly steeled himself.
"I accept your challenge," he sighed, glittering as somberly as possible.
"Do you take these humans as your representatives?" Cerys continued.
"I do," said Cael.
He tried not to look at Ser Kay. Cael doubted the bigger man would save him a second time. Ser Fer seemed eager to throw herself into this thing, at least.
Cerys stalked past the knights, looking down her long imperious nose at each in turn. Finally she nodded, turned on her heel, and faced her father.
"If you want to play at being a knight, then knightly this shall be. I need but one champion: the Faerie Dragon. If your knights can defeat her in combat, this proves you a capable monarch. I will concede the challenge, you may retain your title, and you will cease neglecting your duties."
"And if they should fail, I will cede the crown," said Cael. "I accept your terms."
"There is one more thing, father. You will feel each blow that lands against these knights as if you yourself were struck. It seems only fair: I hold nothing against them, after all, whereas there is much I hold against you."
The tingling in his fingertips told him she spoke the truth. Cael clenched his jaw. He had been too quick to accept, and this had become part of their deal.
"Fine," he said.
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Post by RielCZ on Jul 20, 2024 1:07:28 GMT -5
Lady Gwyne eased under the soothing touch of... what was the knight's name, Ser Kay? ( Kyn) She would have to remember that. He... seemed to directly understand her concerns, if not even her words, which took her by surprise. The good kind of surprise. "Maybe you are worthy to be serving my King Arthur after all," she spoke softly, nuzzling into the strokes. The steed wondered if the faerie at whom she had expressed her frustrations had understood her, too. ( Thorn) Was she their leader? Anyway, the noble lady was issuing a declaration: Gwyne understood the Faerie Queen to say. She looked toward... Ser Cael, yes, that was his name. And the other knights. "Go, noble sers!" she exclaimed to the knights as they steadily appeared to mobilize into some sort of combat formation. "Show that faerie dragon defeat, as though she were threatening our great King Arthur himself!" The steed watched, calculating, biding her time, prepared to rush to help should an opportunity present itself. |
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Post by Kyn on Jul 21, 2024 12:07:57 GMT -5
Kay generally had a way with animals. This was evidenced when Lady Gywne nuzzled his hand and remarked appreciatively, "Maybe you are worthy to be serving my King Arthur after all." Unfortunately, Kay's own steed took offence that his rider's worthiness was in question at all. Llamlyn did not retort verbally, being of a less talkative and more discreet temperament than Gwyne, but he did snort near her face and pulled back his head as if to headbutt her. Kay hastily calmed his steed in turn. However, he froze at the following proclamation from Cerys: "There is one more thing, father. You will feel each blow that lands against these knights as if you yourself were struck. It seems only fair: I hold nothing against them, after all, whereas there is much I hold against you." Such blatant ill will towards one's parent was appalling to Kay. "He's your father!" he exclaimed. "How could you bear to see him come to harm, let alone be the architect of it?!" Cerys turned away in dismissal. "That is between my father and me." "Lady, I implore you to repeal the condition that any injuries received by the knights would be passed on to your father." "That is not possible. Once the terms have been set, they cannot be undone. But if you are so concerned, then you may refrain from partaking in combat. Alternatively, you can contrive to defeat the Faerie Dragon without sustaining any injuries." Kay's hands balled into tight fists. "I will take your advice to heart." He strode over to Cael, stopping in front of the monarch before kneeling in knightly fashion. "Queen Caelia," he addressed formally, ignoring the confused looks his fellow knights were directing at him, "I beseech you to appoint me your sole champion for this challenge. Pray do not dispatch any other." Glancing up at Cael, he added quietly, "For I alone am enough to match such a creature, and I think we would both prefer to minimize potential casualties." Llamlyn disdainfully eyed Gwyne, who seemed raring to charge into battle herself. He casually ambled forward to casually block her path. RielCZ Thorn |
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Post by Celestial on Jul 24, 2024 12:09:12 GMT -5
What have you sacrificed to be here?
Ser Genji's mood was dark. The figure they had met in the clover, the one calling itself Joker of Clubs, whatever type of odd being it was, had spoken such words that greatly alarmed him. It seemed to know where their companions had gone, and hinted that they may get them back somehow, though it did not offer any clue as to how. Being so helpless, even in the face of the supernatural, did not sit well with Genji one bit.
He looked back at his companions. These people he had known for but a fraction of time, and yet their grace and hospitality despite his strange origin was a debt he could never repay. Since he had arrived, he had not yet been engaged in a proper battle with them. Not crossed swords against a common enemy, nor saved their lives, nor had his life saved in turn by one of them. Yet Ser Genji would consider them as much his fellow samurai and comrades as he did his lord's other retainers back home.
Wherever home was. It was gone now. Genji doubted he would see it again.
But if he had not disappeared then, he would never have met these people. And waht fine people they were!
Here was his new home, and here were his new comrades. Just as well, as their peaceful times were now coming to an end. Some of their fellow knights needed help, and what a dishonourable, disgraceful coward Genji would be if he did not help them. He would have left his home for nothing.
Genjo stopped and turned to the others with him. "Forgive me for speaking out of turn," he bowed deeply. "But I feel we cannot abandon our fellows to their fates. Perhaps I am easily swayed, but all of them hadbeen kind to me, especially in my unique situation. I do not wish for them to feel abandoned, and believe it would be cowardly to do so. They may be in grave danger. May I please request you join me in helping them?"
He closed his eyes briefly. "It is the only thing I feel will make up for all the hospitality and kindness provided to me. one good turn deserves another."
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Post by Moni on Jul 24, 2024 21:30:29 GMT -5
Why did you and another knight nearly come to blows?
"Wait a second, lady," said Ser Fer. "A faerie dragon? What's a faerie dragon?"
"It's a regular dragon that's a faerie," replied Cerys.
"That's not specific enough." Fer remembered that at the annual Arthurian Fish and Chips festival, where cooks from all of England competed to make Arthur's favorite dish, Genji drew a "dragon" that looked more like an eel. Her head throbbed. "I'm going to have to ask for a visual representation of this dragon."
Cerys snapped her fingers, and an illusion of a grand castle guarded by a regular British dragon--specifically, the Liverpool variant of British dragon--sitting on top of a marvelous palace appeared. The only noticeable difference was that it had little firefly wings and an atrocious amount of glimmer.
"Kay, I really don't think you can fight this thing. Honestly, I don't think your sword would so much as register as a splinter would."
And furthermore, Ser Fer thought, did Cael even need to fight for his throne? He had never mentioned his daughter--not even once--not even while completely drunk--not even when he was in near-death situations. He couldn't have had too much love for this place.
"You really shouldn't go at it alone. I'm--blast!" Fer suddenly blurted, "teleporting me here has seriously injured my poor little head. As king, don't you have some kind of magic for this?"
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Post by June Scarlet on Aug 14, 2024 18:42:48 GMT -5
Which traveling companion do you have more in common with than you first thought?
Whenever Thomas saw him, he couldn't help but think that Ser Genji put the "ser" in "serious." Thomas respected him, of course, same as all the other knights. He just never felt at ease with him. Always had to make sure he was on his best behavior with that one. The boy never thought he'd have anything in common with the serious Ser.
But Thomas realized that Ser Genji was right, they couldn't leave the others to their fate, whatever it was. "Aye," he spoke up, "We should find the others, whatever it may take."
King Arthur nodded. "Ser Genji speaks true. We do not where they were summoned to, however, I might know of one who might be able to scry where..."
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Post by Kyn on Aug 15, 2024 9:37:16 GMT -5
Do you think you are worthy of the Grail?
It was exactly because he needed to prove himself worthy that Kay had undertaken the Grail Quest in the first place. But it wasn't the Grail itself that he laboured to be worthy of.
(His mother had screamed right after his foolish ignorant self had placed that necklace on her. She screamed in pain, the cold iron burning into her susceptible fairy skin.)
Cerys's cold-blooded disregard — even subtle anticipation — at the prospect of her father's pain made his blood boil.
(Oh gods he had hurt Mother he was a bad son—)
He now realized what it was he had to do, what fate had brought him to this island for. Ironically, Cerys herself laid out the method by which he could undermine her: "Defeat the Faerie Dragon without sustaining any injuries."
(Bad children deserve to be chastened.)
"Kay, I really don't think you can fight this thing. Honestly, I don't think your sword would so much as register as a splinter would."
"You underestimate my prowess," he retorted to Fer. "I have felled giants and monsters in my time. Facing a dragon in lone combat is well within my capabilities."
Kay studied the image of the Faerie Dragon. Determination gleamed in his lake-blue eyes.
(There was no trial he would not be willing to overcome if it but brought him a step closer to being worthy of forgiveness.)
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Post by Liou on Sept 11, 2024 18:34:06 GMT -5
What frustrates you about King Arthur?
"Fine, even if we can say it's within your capabilities, Kay, hogging a dragon to yourself is just plain rude." Ser Reel, unhorsed by the teleportation, straightened up and walked behind their fellows as casually as they could. "That's basic knight etiquette, remember? Do you think challenges against dragons await us at every turn? Be a good sport and share. Nobody likes a glory hog."
That would have made more sense coming from their king, really, but the lad was almost too polite, a good chap as far as Ser Reel knew him, they could never shake off the feeling that the dear fellow, for all his prowess, would simply end up stabbed in the back. They did wish he would put his foot down a bit more, what with all those large knights to keep in check.
Ser Reel was not so worried about King Arthur right now despite being separated from him, however, for Ser Reel had also remained in King Arthur's party.
Some of the spiders had not been teleported.
The armour was much shakier now, hence their caution while walking and please, oh please let those magical fair folk not casually out them to the knights as a tiny person obviously trapped in a suit of armour with spiders.
Ser Reel, nestled in the webs that controlled their armour, was aware, within their mind, of the other spiders' whereabouts in the clover patch.
This was fine and not at all concerning.
"We can do this together, Cael. Well, whatever this is."
meanwhile in the clover field
Meanwhile, Wilhelmina the Thorough, a large and beautiful specimen, had climbed onto a branch for a better look at their surroundings. She knew that the other suits of armour out there did not contain more spiders, but large fleshy creatures. They were still allies, however, and the rest of the Multitude inside her armour, far away, longed to be reunited with them!
The Multitude communed. Animals had knowledge of the land of fairies, and Wilhelmina the Thorough knew what she had to do. She set about weaving, between some twigs, a message.
On the ground, Beryl the Astute had a better idea, knocked Wilhelmina off her web, and quickly wove a fairy symbol and the crest on the knights' shield into the same web.
The handful of other spiders that had been left behind climbed onto the branch in hopes of catching the fleshy knights' attention.
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Post by Thorn on Sept 24, 2024 19:23:36 GMT -5
Cael had, quite honestly, not expected his companions to rush so eagerly to his defence. Kay was still kneeling before him, Fer was adamant she fight alongside Kay, and approximately two-thirds of Ser Reel was assuring Cael that they could handle this together.
Cael met Kay's penetrating gaze only with great difficulty. "Um. Yes. Yes, Ser Reel is right. I will not keep anyone from fighting a dragon, and nor will I force anyone who does not wish to fight a dragon to do so. You can leave this place if you wish. I can show you how."
He swallowed his rising panic. It was no small thing for a fairy queen to lose the throne. It wasn't just a simple transfer of title. Cael couldn't let that influence their decision. It wouldn't be fair, and he wanted to be more fair.
With a shower of sparks, the fairy dragon appeared overhead in all her shimmering, tiny-winged glory.
She dove at the knights, talons extended, teeth bared.
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Post by Moni on Oct 28, 2024 13:11:50 GMT -5
What is the hardest decision you’ve made in this journey?
Ser Fer never really thought of herself as someone who made hard decisions, but as the dragon loomed over the horizon, she really thought about taking Cael's offer to just leave. She had hoped that he would have picked up what she was putting down: it was really very quite improper to send a knight into battle with a headache without even a cup of tea, or, in better places, some kawakawa.
It might have even helped dull some of the pain Cael would receive. Well, she supposed, there was a reason he was no King Arthur.
Ser Kay slunk into the nearby sea. Fer skittered out of the way of the dragon's attack, managing to put her spear directly in its path. It was hard to hold onto; her shoulder had moved in such a way that almost tore something.
But that would be Cael's problem. The dragon, unlike her, did not have some strange spell transferring its pain to somebody else, and so screeched and retreated for a moment. Kay could finally work his magic from the waters. Giant globs on kinetic energy gathered around the shore. Ser Fer doffed the surfboard she always carried on her back.
As the still-unbroken waves surged to the sky, she sprinted to ride them. She caught the first stream and found herself almost surfing through it as easily as the faerie dragon flew through the air. Said dragon, at that point, had come back for a second swipe at her.
Its talons went a full foot past Ser Fer's face. The two combatants, such as they were, shared a glance before she retaliated, thrusting her spear into a wing...
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