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| Knights of Logres | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: September 1, 2012, 6:40 pm (5,628 Views) | |
| Onime No Ryu | September 1, 2012, 6:40 pm Post #1 |
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I'll be your Undertaker this evening
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A knight is sworn to valour. His heart knows only virtue. His blade defends the helpless. His might upholds the weak. His word speaks only truth. His wrath undoes the wicked. --The Old Code of the First Knights I here swear fealty and do homage to my lord; to ever be a good knight and true, reverent and generous, shield of the weak, obedient to my liege-lord, foremost in battle, courteous at all times, champion of the right and the good. Thus swear I... --The Oath of all Knights of Logres In the southern lands of civilized men, far from the barbaric wilderness of the North, lies the great kingdom of Logres. For many an age has Logres prospered and flourished, and its kings ruled with a strong and just hand. So it was until the time of King Tristain. Though Tristain was a fair ruler and did the kingdom no great injustice compared to his predecessors, it was during his reign that the North became much agitated. The Barbarian tribes came together as one under Sverir Fydar and stormed down the Throttle, that narrow strip of land connecting our world to theirs. Logres's armies had slowly begun to dwindle and the days had grown long since their cities and towns repaired and maintained their walls and towers; the last two-score years had been so peaceful that, for a time, the Knights of Logres feared their order might cease to exist. In its weakened state the kingdom was slow to halt the charge of the Northmen. The wild hordes swept across the Broadback Mountains, and though the wedge that was the Aegis divided their forces it did not stop them. The men of Bristel were caught unprepared, and only when the guard of Eastbridge marched to their defense did the Northerners cease a relentless assault. But while an uneasy stalemate persisted on one side of the mountains, King Tristain and his sons, brilliant younger Rhys and strong elder Conall, drove the barbarians back across the mountains. From the Hilt that had not seen battle in half a century and the depths of Nightwood came their armies, and even the strange, swift longboats from Yamajima hassled any northmen who thought to slink along the sloping shores below the Broadback. Landing at Eastbridge, the islanders added their forces to the other half of the army, while the King and his sons reinforced the Aegis. The Logermen drove their foes back in a matter of months, and once again peace reigned; however, unlike the lazy days of before, these were days filled with activity such as the hive of bees at the onset of spring. The King gave his sons leave to separate tasks--Rhys was to oversee the gathering of resources and make plans for reconstruction, while Conall was tasked with strengthening the armies and repairing what damage had been done to the great fortress Aegis, for it was a cornerstone of their victory and all felt that they would have sore need of it in the future. Tristain himself took a host to Waveguard to lay plans for naval warfare and consider the possibilities of raiding the north to further cement their victory. Because the war had turned so many boys to men and men to soldiers, and soldiers had performed deeds that earned them lands and titles, the Knights of Logres found their ranks swelling like never before, and set about hosting great tournaments and games and breaking in their new castles. But soon Logres faced a new crisis. Whether his age began to catch up with him, or as a result of the stress of the war, or because of the exposure to the harsh northern elements...perhaps for all of these reasons, the King fell ill. He was quickly rushed back to Kingsport to receive proper treatment, but the trip proved too much for him. Frail and fragile, he died in the arms of his youngest son Rhys, and both brothers wept from the bottom to the top of the mountains. As the kingdom was still in the midst of reconstruction, it was agreed that Rhys would take over the management of the kingdom while Conall continued strengthening the defensive lines and making plans for the northern invasion. At this time, both were sure that Conall, as the eldest, would naturally inherit the crown. But as weeks turned to months, Rhys became more and more convinced that his brother was not the ruler that the people of Logres needed. Whether lust for power or simple logic dominated his thoughts, none can say. But Rhys soon declared his intentions to his brother, and after a flurry of angry letters between them, Logres found itself divided down the middle. Conall, entrenched in the impenetrable Aegis, demanded the crown by the right of eldest son and head of the family line, as well as by right of strength, for their father had left him in charge of the military. He had been raised and groomed for this moment for years before his brother had even been born, and to have his birthright snatched away was nothing short of treason. Rhys denied this on the grounds that Logres needed proper guidance, and its people needed a king that Conall could not become. He placed the crown upon his own head and claimed that for the common good and for the betterment of all he would take upon himself all responsibility. The Knights of Logres were divided between these two according to those whose lands and banners belonged to the different territories each brother claimed, with the exception of those who chose one side or the other for their own personal reasons. Now, what will surely become a bloody civil war begins... RULES GENERAL STUFF WORLD INFO AND MAP KNIGHT STUFF YOU CAN POST NOW Edited by Onime No Ryu, September 1, 2012, 9:28 pm.
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| Onime No Ryu | September 1, 2012, 9:27 pm Post #2 |
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I'll be your Undertaker this evening
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KINGSPORT CASTLE ARTURIAN THRONE ROOM The afternoon sun hit the waters of Kingsport and burst into a thousand radiant flowers floating upon the surface. Prince Rhys Arawn Arturian, First of His Name, King of Logres--for so long as his brother allowed him to hold the crown, some said--had not marveled at the sight since the first week he had declared his reign. The great arched window in his fathers--no, my--throne hall could no longer enthrall him with its view, encompassing the whole of the great port city from the eye of a king who stood above it all. Yet still he gazed, not seeing, his thoughts as churning as the ocean was calm. "Your Grace?" Rhys turned his slender neck, his long dark hair falling across his narrow, bright blue eyes. His face, as much the noble, handsome aristocrat as his brother was the rugged, hardened warrior, showed only a moment's displeasure. He shifted in the great throne, one hand tracing the outline of the great stone eagle's talon upon the armrest. The bird perched over the king, its wings unfurled, protecting those beneath its shadow and ready to take flight to battle at the slightest provocation. "My apologies, Sir Owen. My thoughts consumed me. Continue." "Yes, my liege." Sir Owen Brynnan of Brynside lowered his head of short, bristly blonde hair and blew out his bushy mustache. He continued to read from the list in his hands; a report compiled over the last week as to the affairs of the kingdom. "In addition to the threescore infantry currently en route, the Hilt sends word that they will have a full regiment fully trained and ready to march within the fortnight." "What of archers, and crossbows?" Owen scanned the paper quickly and kept his place with the tip of a gloved finger. "Fourscore shall be ready by next month." Rhys sighed and rubbed his forehead. "T'would be better if they'd sent them instead of the infantry. Cavalry will be practically useless against the Aegis, and no matter how many infantry we have they will simply crash against its walls. I need archers and siege engines, grappling hooks and catapults!" "Even so, the Aegis is not our only foe, my liege." Owen looked up, unconsciously curling a corner of the report. "But, regardless, you do not plan to openly engage your brother yet, surely?" "Not yet, no." Rhys admitted, leaning back to look up at the ceiling. "We must gain a foothold in the Broadback...and we must have the Furwood as well, if we want any hope of taking the Aegis. We must cut my brother off from all sides." "Of course, my liege. But, to turn away from battle for a moment," Owen cleared his throat and gestured to the window, or more accurately the city outside it. "What will you do about the other issues?" "Inform the Smith's Guild that I will meet with them at the end of this week. Their hot-headed Master should take that as enough insult to his importance that he will be suitably heated when the moment comes." Rhys allowed himself a small smile, picturing the look on the master craftsman's face. "People can be pounded into shape as well as steel--perhaps more easily." He stretched his lithe arms with a crack and pop. "As for the taxes, have...hmm..." The prince-king's expression was fierce as he ran numerous calculations in his head. "Lower seed and fertilizer by, oh, a few tenths of a percent, and raise it on produce by a few tenths less than that." The harvest would begin in just a few weeks, and no doubt the greedier farmers would increase their prices during the first few weeks when the common folks rushed to refill their dwindling larders, while the demand was highest. Those high prices would translate to higher tax payments. On the other side of the equation, the farmers would not be buying more seed to replace what they had sowed until closer to the next planting season, so there would not be much of a loss if taxes were lowered upon it. And the common people would not see as much reason to complain if there was less of an increase than there was a decrease in their taxes, for the majority of them were not educated enough to determine the difference in market value. In this way Rhys would keep the merchants from overcharging from the smallfolk, because they would not want to pay higher tax, while still increasing the kingdom's profit. He would need a great deal of coin, after all, to support the war efforts. "Were there any other issues, or is that the end of the report?" "The rest consists of merely status reports, the most important of which I've already discussed." Owen said. "I'll inform the master of coin of your decision, about the taxes, and see if I can convince the commanders at the Hilt to quicken their pace with the training of ranged fighters." "And the Guild." "Yes, of course." Owen smiled bashfully, and Rhys returned the gesture, some of his stony facade beginning to fade. The knight of Brynside, that small but fierce keep in the gently rolling hills northwest of the Hilt, had been at the prince's--No Owen, he's your king now--side since the boy's umbilical was freshly cut. He bowed and excused himself, before the second half of that thought could darken his mood. And so was I also at the side of his brother, as was my own brother. Ah, sword-brother, they truly call you the Faraway Knight...what are you thinking now, I wonder, so high up in the mountains? "Your Grace!" announced a doorman just as Owen was about to exit. The man bowed to the king and gave a smart salute to the knight, before raising his voice yet again. "Sir Carth of Silvis requests an audience!" "Of course, send him in." Rhys said, waving his hand. "I've been hoping he would return today." THE AEGIS MAIN KEEP CONALL'S THRONE "What about the Throttle? I don't want the northerners thinking they can take advantage of this sibling scuffle to make another attempt." The booming voice of Prince Conall Gwyddion Arturian, First of His Name, King of Logres, rang out over the room known as the Vault Hall, deep within the thick stone walls of the Aegis, the strongest fortress in all of Logres. It had been turned into Conall's throne room for the moment, though he still used the great chair that the Shield-lords normally governed from. "Only a handful of raiding parties have been encountered over the last month, and they've all been dealt with. No survivors, no prisoners." answered one of his generals. "Nevertheless, I've already given my men orders to increase the defenses of the frontier and do some counter raiding across the treeline to discourage further attempts." "Bring them back if they don't see major activity within the next month." Conall replied, before taking a long draught from his ale horn. He wiped his mouth, feeling the stubble of the last few days scrape against his large, calloused hands. "I can't have my forces spread out like this or Rhys will pick them off one by one, the crafty little brat." "In the same line of thought, we should begin fortifying the shoreline below the Furwood." piped up another general. "Your brother will no doubt attempt to make a landing there and surround us on all sides." "No, I don't think spending the resources and labor on fortifications are necessary." Conall said, gesturing for a servant to put another slab of meat on his plate. "After all, we have the islanders. No ship will get past them--am I correct in this assumption, Sir Ishen?" The dark shadow behind the great seat was silent for a moment. Sir Ishen of Yamajima, the one the commonfolk called the Faraway Knight with the same reverence they gave the title of Sir Owen, the Holy Lance, stepped away from his liege lord to look out over the long table and all its occupants--the elder nobility, the veterans of war, those who had served in honor and valor and followed the laws of tradition for generations on end, and who now flocked to the man they called their rightful king by all the old laws. "I've received word that my fleet is still stretched across the Gulf, and sent a response telling them to establish a temporary base on the shore. They'll handle whatever fortifications happen to be necessary, and then begin scouting." "Scouting?" questioned one of the generals. "Why aren't they forming a blockade?" "The entire reason those longships are dangerous is their speed and size." Conall said as he swallowed. "They're small, and hard to hit, and fast--but they wouldn't last a moment against a galley that tried to ram through their line. Instead of a blockade they'll have to spread out and harass enemy ships before they ever get close to the shore." "I would still recommend that you send a force to the shoreline, at least to defend the port villages." Ishen added, once again fading into the shadows at the back of the room, his arms crossed. "There is every possibility a ship might get past the scouts." Conall let loose a roaring laugh and grinned at the knight. "You're so damned cautious, man! Just like my brother--maybe you should've stayed with him, eh?" Ishen's glare was sharp. "I assure you, my loyalty is here. Whatever your orders I will stand by them." Conall laughed again and signaled for another horn of ale. "Very well, I'll have a platoon or two sent down there to patrol the shores. Or, maybe...After all, Rhys no doubt knows the importance of the shores as well as we. Perhaps we should throw a wrench in those carefully laid plans of his and send a host to shatter him before he ever gets up the beach." "Whatever your orders, my liege." said Ishen. Suddenly pushing away from the wall, he bowed. "If I may be excused." Conall waved him away, knowing the knight's peculiarities better than most. The black haired islander adjusted the traditional curved sword of the islands in his gray waist-sash and left the hall with long, purposeful strides. Edited by Onime No Ryu, September 2, 2012, 7:16 am.
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| Garm0099 | September 1, 2012, 11:07 pm Post #3 |
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Marksman
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CYMRU HOUSE DYFENT 2 WEEKS AGO "Now are you positive you want to join this war? I mean-" Cadoc's mother said to Cadoc as she watched him finish cleaning and caring for his various polearms. Cadoc chuckled as he set down the Ranseur he was polishing and stood up next to his mother, "Mother, you worry too much. I'll be sure to come home safely; no harm will be done to me," he said as he wrapped an arm around her shoulder and comforted her. He stood about half a head taller than her and was wearing comfortable peasant clothes with the sleeves rolled up half way up his arms to work. He sat back down at the bench and moved some of his black hair away from his dull green eyes as he also grabbed the cloth and began working again. "But what of the family curse? Aren't you afraid you are going to fall over dead in battle like you grandfather did?" she said with great concern in her voice. Cadoc looked down at his hands and noticed they were shaking slightly. He pressed them flat against the table to stop it before his mother could see, "Haven't we talked about this before? I've spoken to scholars and they've said it's not a curse, it's just some disease or something like that. As long as I keep mint leaves around I should be fine they said." Cadoc began polishing the Ranseur again. "Well, if you say so. Just... Just reconsider it okay? I don't want you getting hurt out there just because you want to participate in the war," She paused for a moment waiting for a response before turning and leaving the room. Cadoc sighed and ran his hands through his hair before returning to work. He could have responded saying something along the lines of him wanting to experience battle, as his father and all of his ancestors have before him, but he has learned that some arguments are best never started. When he finished cleaning and inspecting his various polearms, he would cover the heads with cloth, put them together in a bundle to be put on a ship with him tomorrow. He set sail to Kingsport tomorrow morning. KINGSPORT Present Time Upon arrival in Kingsport, Cadoc made reservations at an inn temporarily so that he would have a place to stay and store his belongings. When in the inn he would quickly wash himself of the smells of the sea, make sure he was clean shaven, and change into a more formal garb then his casual clothes. He wore his black and green leather armor that doubled as both ceremonial armor and his combat armor. He also went to a weapon rack that contained his various polearms and chose a Guisarme-Vogue that had a black shaft and a blade was dulled with a slightly green hue and the family crest on the blade. He quickly inspected himself in a mirror to make sure he was wearing the correct attire to visit the prince and enlist in the army. He felt his heart quicken as he began to get nervous, "God damn it... Not now." He took some deep breaths as he left the inn and walked to Castle Arturian. As he walked he marveled at the architecture of the city and of the castle he was approaching. When inside he appreciated the artwork and banners of the halls, recalling some of his studies of heraldry from the distant past. Upon finding someone who seemed like a squire, Cadoc would approach him and ask if he could have an audience with Prince Rhys. The squire nodded and went off to find the Prince in the throne room. Cadoc would follow him and wait outside the room and wait until his presence was called for by either the squire or the Prince. As he waited he felt his hand beginning to shake and his leg feeling jittery. He clenched his fist to stop the shaking and tried to take deep breaths in an attempt to calm his heart down so that his leg wouldn't shake more. |
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| NTNP | September 2, 2012, 7:49 am Post #4 |
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Admin
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Lord Carth Silvis and Dion Silvis: Kingsport As Sir Owen finished his report, the doors of the throne room opened ever so slightly. Then a yell followed, somewhat out of place for this time and place given the sudden appearance of an intruding eye already trying to gaze inside. About all, that those inside could really make out was the name “Rhysie” somewhere in there. A second later a rather loud, if muffled argument followed for about three seconds. Then after a short silence the great wooden doors swung open, aided by the two guards pushing with all their might. Two men walked into the throne room. The one that walked in front was the oldest, with a young man trailing behind. Both were dressed not in the attire of war but in something a bit more formal for the occasion. Apparently the information they had gathered wasn’t so important that it required barging into the room in full regalia. The one up front was the man that Sir Owen had spoken about before. Lord Carth Silvis, master of the Silvis Mines in the outskirts of the Aegis and son of Duke Seth Silvis, one of the founding members of this country. His prestigious lineage and position within the autocracy made him well known, more so than his actions as a knight. While not an entirely bad career, he had far less heroic victories than either the Holy Lance or the Faraway Knight. Standing at an extremely impressive 6’5, he dwarfed his compatriots as he passed across the threshold of the room. In stature however, he was chubbier than one would hope from a finely tuned fighting machine. When encased in thick armor, it was hidden and only added to his appearance but standing here in the finest of threads, one would be hard pressed to not view him as a little less than those surrounding him discipline wise. His face hinted at his age. Even with his dark black hair cut as short as it could and that well-groomed beard that the noble had likely covered in all sorts of unmentionable goo trying to keep its natural shade was already starting to resemble salt and pepper. The boy to Lord Carth’s back was perhaps eighteen at most. Instantly he waved at the king completely ruining any sense of formality while smiling from ear to ear. The majority of the room would recognize this rather enthusiastic man as Lord Carth’s son Dion. While not quite as tall as his father, Dion still stood at a rather impress height and his build was more akin to that of a soldier. His hair was similar to that of Rhys’ own, if not a bit longer. Held back by a tie to keep it from getting in his face, Dion’s features seemed a bit more slender, likely from his mother’s side. Both father and son shared one more similarity; they both had the same blue eyes. If anyone had to guess whom had yelled out for the master of this castle, this moment would likely cement it in his or her mind. As they walked, Carth turned and glared at the boy causing him to shrink ever so slightly before they got any closer. As the two approached the throne, Carth bowed. A second passed before Carth’s ever so popular scowl returned as he waited for Dion to do the same. Yet he just stood there, his face literally beaming as if a thought bubble had appeared over his head saying, ‘this is so cool, my best buddy is like… king now. How awesome is this’ before finally having it pop thanks to good ole’ pop’s glare. Quickly the boy bowed as well, a mere dip making it look more like he was just trying to touch his toes and then come back up. It was quickly becoming clear WHY Carth was getting gray hair in his early forties. After an exhausted sigh, there did not seem like much else that he could do to remedy the situation so he just moved on. Approaching the throne, the knight’s words seemed somewhat hollow as if he was holding something back. If he had taught Rhys anything during their time together as teacher and pupil, he would understand what that meant. “My king... the Aegis is every bit as formidable as ever, however it is under manned at the moment. A regiment of soldiers marches toward the northern border to maintain the Throttle. Not to mention that your brother fears the Caledons so much that he looks at them as if it was his responsibility to keep watch over them as a warden; it keeps him from truly making them a part of this kingdom. When the opportunity presents itself, they might make a grand ally for us. Conall is mustering forces, but still are choosing not to march upon us. I suspect they intend to end your rule with a storybook like battle, a single overwhelming victory that fixes everything. It is little that we did not know before but it does provide us a bit more time to prepare.” “Hey dad, tell him about the best part.” Dion’s confidence seemed to beam out of him. It was instantly clear that this was the reason why he was so excited before. “Rhysie this is a good one. I’m not saying that it’ll fix everything, but it’ll at least give us a little bit of an advantage. Let’s just say that some people aren’t too happy with your brother right now. If we-“ “Dion silence!” After a second of deep breaths, Carth seemed to calm down after his outburst. He was still glaring at his son but at least his anger seemed to be cooling. “Perhaps it would be best if we addressed that in private my king?” If the information that he had gathered along the way happened to be spoiled by an unloyal ear everything might be lost, both the option to make use of the information but also those that had provided it to them. “Apologies, I doubt that Dion will ever truly grasp the intricacies of our games. If we may, I have information that is… a bit more fluid than what should or should not be addressed in open court. I don’t know if you would be interested, but it is an opportunity that I heard about along the way.” “Rhys, what would you have us do now?” the knight asked with a nod, waiting for some sort of response from his former pupil. While it was a bit strange taking orders from the man that a few mere months ago who had been looking up to him, asking what to do in a situation. Time really had forced him to grow up quickly. Perhaps too quickly… Edited by NTNP, September 2, 2012, 8:42 am.
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| Garm0099 | September 2, 2012, 11:03 am Post #5 |
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Marksman
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(Just making a mini post so we don't have to waste a round on Cadoc being brought in)) As Cadoc waited, he heard some curious sounds around the corner and soon saw none other than Lord Silvis and a young boy that Cadoc assumed must be his son. They looked similar enough for the relation to be true, but their attitude was almost completely opposite of one another. As they entered, the Squire returned and led Cadoc into the chamber. If asked to relinquish weapons, he would comply and hand them the polearm before entering. Noticing that the Prince, Lord Silvis, and Dion were having only a semi-formal conversation that also seemed among friends, Cadoc decided to be quite for now. When the Prince would address him he would move forward, make sure he was suppressing the effects of the 'curse' as much as possible, "Hello Prince Rhys, Lord Silvis," he said to each, bowing as he said it, "I am Sir Cadoc Owaine of House Dyfent and I am here to apply for the military for the coming war." He said without staggering, just as he had practiced it many times before. All he was doing now was hoping they would look past him being underweight and let him join. |
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| Onime No Ryu | September 2, 2012, 12:03 pm Post #6 |
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I'll be your Undertaker this evening
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KINGSPORT CASTLE ARTURIAN THRONE ROOM Rhys let a short, quiet laugh escape him, and leaned forward in his throne as the man who'd been like an uncle to him, and the young lordling whom he and his brother had romped with many a day as children, walked into the hall. Dion was as energetic and unruly as ever, his father's heated glares always failing to ruin that contagiously happy mood. Nevertheless, Rhys knew that the Knight of Silvis was not one to waste time on joviality. "Well met, Sir Carth, Sir Dion. If I were to judge from my friend's expression, you would have good news?" the king said. As Carth made his report, Rhys shrugged and leaned back once more against the throne. "You could leave a single man on each corner of Aegis's walls and the place would still be damn near impenetrable. As for the Throttle, if he hadn't done so I was considering sending a party up there myself. I don't want this conflict turning into a battle royale." He looked out the window, as if casting his sight beyond the sun stained waters towards those distant cliffs and crags of the Caledonians. "As for the highlanders, I've no designs on their territory. We had enough of a fight taking the Aegis and the Furwood from them. They are welcome to their Swordpoint and the forests of Wyrd." When Carth brought up the point of an alliance, the prince lifted a finger to his chin in thought. "I do not trust Farghus, and I doubt he would offer us any aid--at least not until it becomes clear who the victor of this war will be. He is too sly by far." "As for my brother, he is not that naive. The only obstacle greater than the Aegis I must overcome is his experience on the field. He knows better than I that battles are not won in a single stroke." As Dion piped up only to be silenced by his father, Rhys waved Carth down with a smile. "You may not have heard, my knight of silver, but Sir Tyrion Stark did a thorough job of cleaning out my cabinet not too long ago. Those of the nobility who plan against me have much more on their minds at the moment, and I am confident that my hall is free of spies. Let my excitable little friend have his say." But before either Dion or his father could expound upon what they had discovered, a new guest entered the hall and identified himself as a knight of House Dyfent. "It is 'Your Grace!'" corrected one of the door guards, thumping the butt of his spear upon the floor. "King Rhys is no longer--" "Hush," Rhys admonished, beckoning for the young knight to come forward. "I've been a prince for, what, twenty-four years? It's going to take a little time to get used to, I'd imagine." He excused himself to Carth and Dion and motioned for them to give him a short moment to deal with the latest arrival. "Sir Cadoc, I shall be much honored to count you among my host." Rhys said. "Pray tell, how is your house? Dyfent seems to me in a bit of a bind at the moment, being so directly below the Broadback. Has my brother made any advances towards your lands?" |
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| Matttheman89 | September 2, 2012, 12:25 pm Post #7 |
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Assassin
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Kingsport Throne Room Tyrion, or Sir Tyrion Stark as most people now referred to him as, found himself standing to the side of the Throne Room as Prince No. It's King now. Rhys conducted his business. He watched silently as Sir Carth Silvis and his son arrived, and began to speak to Rhys of matters important to the Realm. Out of all the people in the kingdom, Carth was probably one of the few people Tyrion would be able to relax his guard around, if only slightly, but he still remained vigilant. A Royal Guard must always be on alert for any signs of danger, and so he kept an eye on them. When a new arrival, one Sir Cadoc, spoke up to introduce himself to the King, Tyrion observed. He was only the latest of many who had arrived in the Kingdom lately seeking to take Rhys up on his offer to fight for the Kingdom against his brother, Conall. Something told him he might not be the last either. The thought almost brought a sigh from him, but he held it in. Was war really inevitable at this point? He wished it were not so. But at this point, it looked like the brothers were destined to clash over the throne. If only the former King hadn't passed away so suddenly, this likely could have been avoided. But he supposed there was no point thinking of such matters now. He frowned slightly as he shook his head, and returned his attention to what was taking place in the Throne Room. |
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| Garm0099 | September 2, 2012, 4:08 pm Post #8 |
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Marksman
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Cadoc became slightly worried when he realized he screwed up on the King's title, but let out a mental sigh of relief when Rhys said it was alright. He thought of a response quickly to Rhys' question about House Dyfent, "Well, our House is only of Barons so we don't have much land owned save for part of the border of Furwood. When I left 2 weeks ago, no assaults have been launched on us yet. I would assume that our land isn't desirable nor worth the effort of attack to your brother since we haven't showed signs of open opposition to him. Although I do hope for the best that he doesn't learn of my aid to you and decide to attack." He sneakily grabbed a mint leaf from a pouch behind him and clenches it in his fist. He brought that hand up to his nose and scratched his nose and smelled the leaves slightly, following the scholars advice to suppress the curse. |
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| NTNP | September 2, 2012, 4:19 pm Post #9 |
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Admin
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Silvis Family Kingsport “Master Owaine, if my liege deems you worthy of joining our force then let us be the first to welcome you. However, at the moment, I would ask for Rhys’ judgment on whom should be allowed to know the information that I feel the need to impart. My liege, your orders?” Carth awaited Rhys to make the decision about whom should know about important, usually somewhat unethical plans that might not entirely live up to the mythos that surrounded the white prince. Once Rhys chose to either allow Cadoc to sit in on their little scheming session or to send him away for a few moments, Carth would begin explaining his idea which would later be stated in the simplest way by his son at the bottom of the paragraphs. “I truly hope the same is not true everywhere my liege, or else I suspect that my usefulness will dwindle rather quickly if every castle was without unexpected ears and eyes.” Carth smiled for a moment, rubbing his neck. While not known as much of a “shadow master” as some of his compatriots were, he did have access to a few rather interesting friends whom seemed to thrive in the darkness, listening in windows and peeking in sealed letters. By now Rhys likely knew of a handful of these connections, after all he had been protecting and training the Prince since he began his military service so long ago. “But on to the business at hand. The city of Westbridge, I assume that you know it hasn’t been overly well protected in the last few weeks correct? Your brother has deemed it far more important to secure his boarders and prepare for opponents that he deems more dangerous than we. Up to this point, it has also been a very important place for traders and portsmen, all common folk whom suffer rather heavily under the rule of your brother. They have witnessed the wonders that you have brought to the western half of the kingdom, they seek the coin that have swelled in the pockets of the cunning and rich. They desire the freedoms that you have granted the common folk when it comes to rising up to nobility. More than anything they enjoy the fantasy of becoming rich, powerful and are self-determined to do so, as they were before this war began. However, misguided such a mass upward mobility would be to the autocracy, I suspect that if we fan the flames of ambition there we might be able to entice them into making a move against Prince Conall.” “Right now he has so many different fields that our young Prince must secure. The Aegis requires defenders to keep it from our hands. The Throttle needs men to secure those boarders. The coastline has to have defenders to protect from our own seabased invasion or that of the islanders. Not to mention that the Prince’s soldiers are holding the Caledons back as well. If we cause a rebellion in Westbridge it would give us a number of options that we could take advantage of.” With a small smile, Carth continued with his little plan. “If Prince Conall chooses to allow the rebellion it will give us a foothold in the eastern territories that will give us the option of supporting an army with ships. It would allow us to pincer the Aegis or continue our invasion northward to my dear Bristel. Also it would leave Westbridge in a rather precarious position, allowing us to easily secure the entire coastline to our lands cutting off the islanders of Yama making them easy prey to our war machine. If he chooses to put it down, well imagine how badly that will look on him. No matter the reason, having knights such as ourselves ride into a general population and cut down any that move is… unseemly. It will make the other populations terrified of them and their liege, something that we can take advantage of with a few well-added words. Not to mention that the mere act of having a rebellion occur will make the aristocracy scared and doubt the Prince’s leadership. In the future, they would call us their saviors who protect them from their brutal overlord.” “And even should we fail what could really be said? We are at war and trying to gain loyalties and sympathies. We offered a few key people a promise of upward mobility that led others to believe that they might gain the same. If they rebel, then your brother has even more on his hands. If they choose not to, it will not look too badly on us. Not to mention that if we do it quietly that we might even be able to orchestrate an even larger coup that might leave the Prince in a very precarious situation.” By this point, it was little question that out of this group that Carth would be the quote upon quote pragmatist who saw the world as a place of means and reasons rather than one of honor and ideal. “Plainly spoken, dad thinks that if we bribe, promise and coerce the right people in Westbridge that we come get them to rebel and give Conall yet another battlefield to fight on. If it works, then we get Westbridge. If it fails, then Conall looks like a monster for killing civilians. If it doesn’t even get off the ground, we lose a little time and money. ” He was blunt as ever, Dion was right on the money with his take of the situation. The boy was irritating sometimes, but perhaps being a big picture person was for the best occasionally. Edited by NTNP, September 2, 2012, 4:21 pm.
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| Onime No Ryu | September 2, 2012, 5:41 pm Post #10 |
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I'll be your Undertaker this evening
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KINGSPORT CASTLE ARTURIAN THRONE ROOM "If I understand correctly," Rhys said to Carth, steepling his fingers, "The 'people,' or whatever group of merchants or guilds or what have you, are more interested in my willingness to grant rank and title than they are in whether they live under one brother or the other." Conall was militant and rough around the edges, but Rhys doubted he was any kind of cruel or oppressive. If he were to help these "rebels" seize power in Westbridge, however, how would they govern the commonfolk? And then there was another side to the matter, as he soon pointed out. "In any case, Sir Carth, if I support these rebels and help them throw off the yoke of my brother, what makes you think they will so readily bend their knees and bear another from me? I would rather not inspire a future uprising before the present conflict is even truly begun. Still..." He stood from the throne and began to pace back and forth in front of the great arched window, his head bowed in thought. "Instead of fanning the flames of rebellion, we'll just make them an offer. If they're truly displeased with Conall's methods--" which he still doubted, but nevertheless--"then they can help my side and, perhaps, earn something for their valor." If they have any. "Have letters sent to your contacts, but don't inspire mass revolutions or riots in the streets. Have them quietly and quickly secure the city if they are able, or else make plans and lie in wait for my agents before they storm the keep. Once they declare my flag Conall will be on them like birds to corn, but if they don't I risk being betrayed and ambushed when I have my forces make landfall there...Hmm..." He stopped pacing and turned towards the window, looking out across the gulf. "And I'm already getting ahead of myself. I can't make landfall anywhere if I can't sail the seas openly. We must have the islanders, and the Gulf." "My liege," Owen said, stepping forward next to his old ally Carth, "Sir Ishen has control of a sizable fleet left over from the battles with the Northerners, but only that one fleet. The rest of Yamajima may not be out of our reach yet." "That's true." Rhys turned to face them again, his great blue coat trimmed with white ermine fur billowing with the motion. "Yamajima has a very different culture from ours. While we desire to rise in rank and wealth as individuals, they instead focus their growth and success on their groups as a whole. They consider the picture before the paints which make it. If we can negotiate with them and make it seem that Ishen is a singular radical, and that his actions as an outlier will not reflect badly on the rest of them, they may disown him and his fleet in order to preserve their own prosperity." "At the same time it is dangerous." Owen advised. "Whatever force you send will no doubt be outnumbered, or at the least outmaneuvered, once we reach their territory. We cannot be sure that they will treat any messengers with the hospitality that our honor requires here." "Even our honor doesn't guarantee a messengers' life, for all that my brother would tout it." Rhys agreed. "But I believe I am coming to a conclusion." He strode back to the throne and sat, crossing his legs to rest one ankle upon his knee. "Sirs Carth, Dion, Owen, Dyfent, and Tyrion." he said, raising his voice to erase any doubt that this was not a royal command, "I would have you all perform the following tasks for me. You will commission a number of battleships from the royal navy--I suspect that half a dozen would be the minimum, but if you feel you may need more, take what can be spared without leaving Kingsport undefended in the Gulf. Each of you will command one of them--those of you who aren't knowledgeable about what it means to run the ship, let the captains take care of it, and you will simply relay orders through them. Make sure these ships have the provisions necessary for a month at sea, just in case the islanders don't allow you to restock. Each of you will take some soldiers under your command as well as whatever crew members and seamen are already stationed upon the battleships. Be sure, very sure, to have cannons, ammunition, spares, and maintenance tools as well." He pointed towards a large map of Logres and the other surrounding territories on his wall, and traced their path in the air with his finger. "You will travel from Kingsport to Ishi-Ou, and request negotiations with the Island Governor, or as he was once called, the Emperor. There you will try to convince him to add his strength to ours. Send a bird back to me before and after these events, and if any unforeseen circumstances crop up. Wait the necessary time for a return bird so you will know if there are any changes to the plan. If there are not, continue on to Westbridge. By this time Sir Carth should have received birds back them as to whether or not their "rebellion" has been successful. If it is so, take control of the city and entrench yourselves for whatever response my brother will no doubt send. From there I will send you further orders." He looked down at the knights assembled before him. "You will all leave on the morrow. Are there any questions?" The plan would, at the most, take around a month to complete, but there were still plenty of possibilities for trouble along the way, especially with the islanders. However, Rhys wasn't one to leave such things unconsidered, and he seemed to think they had a fair chance of success. THE AEGIS COURTYARD TRAINING FIELD THE SOLDIER-BOY TRENT Trent slid back on his heels as he barely parried a blow from the much more experienced, as well as much older soldier the officers had set him to spar with. It was only a test of his skills, so they fought with sticks wrapped with a thick cotton pad where the blade would be, but it was still heavy enough to sting, especially in the hands of someone who knew how to use it. And it became apparent very quickly that Trent did not. "He moves well enough for a novice." one of the officers pointed out as they watched the farmer's son duck another swing and back away. "If he lives another year or two those shoulders will be twice that broad, I'd wager. Good arms too, he's no weakling." said another. "Bah!" countered the third, spitting upon the ground. "Fit as a fiddle he may be, but it doesn't make him a soldier!" Suddenly he shouted across the field. "HIT HIM, BOY! THIS ISN'T A PLAYGROUND!" Trent didn't seem to hear the man, but he suddenly set his feet nonetheless. He had inadvertently left a huge opening, and his opponent's pad whacked him hard in the ribs. Then the boy swung his own weapon in both hands with a grunt and all the strength of his back. WHAM It left a very noticeable imprint on the other man's face and kept going, knocking the older soldier clear off his feet and snapping his head to one side so fast it almost seemed like he'd broken his neck. The fellow hit the ground with a loud oomph, his weapon rolling from his hands. The officers were more than surprised as Trent leaned on his own sword, breathing heavily, while two other recruits had to help his opponent stand up straight. "...That blow to the ribs would have carved him open. He would bleed out in minutes." "Unless a healer got to him or a companion carried him away from the fighting--and if he were wearing armor--" "He took a blow that might or might not have killed him, but he gave one back that would have damn sure taken that bloke's head off, helmet or no." The third officer now seemed the most convinced of them all, nodding to himself as if he'd known it all along. "Yes, let's put him in...oh, the third or fourth wave, I'd say." Meanwhile, Trent was mentally clapping himself on the back. He'd finally made it--here, to the army of Prince, no, King Conall, and he stood inside the walls of the Aegis, home to the Shield-lords! Here was where his journey, maybe even his legend, began! Edited by Onime No Ryu, October 4, 2012, 2:25 pm.
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| NTNP | September 2, 2012, 6:42 pm Post #11 |
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Admin
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Silvis Family Kingsport Even though he was a squire, easily too young for such an order Dion could only smile. In truth, he had been waiting a chance to take up arms like this, to earn his shot at becoming knighted and something like this was exactly what he was looking for. “Alright Rhys, you got it. You know that I’m not too much of a seaman but… I guess I’ll give it a shot. What’s the worst that could happen?” Alternatively Carth merely nodded and then bowed before responding. “Yes my liege” was the exact same response that he had offered Tristan before when times like this came up. It was almost like muscle memory had taken over for the time being. Once the rest had responded and began to file out, the old knight chose to take a slightly bolder step and be honest about his goal in case the truth had flew over the young King’s head. Afterall, idealists and dreamers tend to have a difficulty understanding the more pragmatic, if downright vicious part of conflicts. “If I may have a moment my king?” Once the prince had agreed, Carth would explain this time no longer attempting to hold back his reasons. Carth had meant that the rebels in West Bridge, the men and women that would likely prove to be trouble for anyone there, be dealt with by using them as meat to be grinded up in the battle. He wanted them to merely be pawns to their game, something to be used and sacrificed in order to trick Conall and to bolster their forces for a short while before they are undoubtedly routed. “Sweet Rhys, I worry that you are sometimes too far sighted or good natured to see the true picture here. The dissidents of Westbridge are pawns my lord, mere pieces to be moved around… to be sacrificed in order to gain the upper hand on the field of battle. They would provide no measure of soldier. They are drunk and hungry peasants with pitchforks and a few merchants willing to sell out a coin in exchange for half empty promises. They are not like the citizen-soldiers of Caledon; they are not like the nomadic hordes of the north. As you deem, these men would as willingly bend knee to one invader as they would another. Mark my words, they will be a thorn in any side, ours included once we deal with the issue of your brother and his backwards ways. This gives us an opportunity to make use of their undying hatred and vile disdain as tool to be used in our favor instead of against us. These same sorts of people were trouble for Tristan too, god rest his soul. I have seen the ways that tradition demands they are dealt with. I have cut a bloody swath through more than a few of mobs under your father’s reign to maintain control over such men. But this way they can be used to our advantage rather than being another riot to be put down later.” “But if it is your command, I will send messengers to see if they will turn for so little and act in a way far greater than what they are capable of doing, though we both know the answer to that. There is little chance that they could secure a small village, let alone a city without it turning into a full-scale riot that must be calmed or regained control of through force of arms. I fear that you overestimate the common folk my lord. They are not quite as impressive as you imagine. They can be bought, amazingly cheap and there are always those unsatisfied with the status quo. They always want change but then gain nothing by it. These are the men we can tempt, or can be silenced through fear. One way or another they always seek ruination and destruction. They require someone willing to thin their herd… obviously not by you my lord, but by someone less ideal. Most are little more than swine, in particular these lot. Nevertheless, they would provide us a rather useful distraction when the time comes for landfall. You must be able to see it can’t you?” At this, Carth motioned for Rhys to shut his eyes for a moment and imagine the battlefield. It was a tactic that he had shown him before, it was a way of helping to cement the image of the ideal tactics appearing before your eyes. “Your goal is a sea invasion, to isolate the Aegis and siege it. To do this, a great fleet has been constructed and sets sail upon the tides a mere two days away from landfall. As the night before we reach our destination the penniless whelps will fly your flag and begin their debauchery. Thus causing destruction in the streets and force Conall’s hand to come deal with the problem. Your brother will assume that this was our goal, irritation. Especially if we make it known through a few unfortunate informants that our true aim is another location, after all he will know that our forces are on the move. No amount of preparation will avoid that, but if we play our cards right he will see this tactic as a way to weaken his forces rather than being the crux of our plans. Your brother will not dare send his entire forces to meet such a miniscule threat with our navy out in force. No he will send only a few… perhaps the Faraway Knight, a few mercenaries and at most a single squad of professional soldiers. I have dealt with greater threats with less under your father’s decrees. They would come expecting a massacre and then to quickly rejoin the true battlefield elsewhere, but only to find a well-oiled fighting force behind waves of glorified meat shields. With our army bolstering the revolutionaries along with the unpreparedness of the force that would be sent it would provide us an easy victory along with weakening your brother’s force. Not to mention a chance to either align ourselves to future dissidents, pulling them into our fold with mere pleasantries and a few measly coins or seeing a whole generation within the Town of West Bridge who would because you pain throughout your rule eliminated before you even have to deal with them. Not to mention another bonus, if one we can hopefully avoid. If we were ever forced to do anything that might, lessen your honor, we can always lay claims that it was the dissidents of Westbridge that did such atrocities and hang them in our own stead. Or if they prove to be more trouble than they are worth, the same can be done over imagined slights to make it where the common folk will see us as even more honorable than before. Both fear, respect and love my lord. Those are the powers that you wield and using men like this, in the way I describe, can let you maintain such things.” |
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| Perascamin | September 3, 2012, 11:44 am Post #12 |
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A Legendary Ocean
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Idlewood Three Weeks Earlier As William and Austin outfitted themselves for their journey outside of the Idlewood Estate, an older man stepped forward; inhaling smoke from his tobacco pipe. His head was entirely bald, aside from the full grey beard around his mouth. A simple man as always, he wore only a simple black shirt with matching loose pants. Everyone knew him by name as the founder of Idlewood--Harry. "William, Austin...Are you sure about this? He asked for maybe the third time today, puffing out a perfect ring of smoke. As the latter mentioned child began tying bracers around his wrist, he looked up and gave his father a slight smile. "Yes, we're sure. You remember one of the first things you taught us don't you?" "Of course." Harry paused for a moment, sighing at the pure beauty of the morning. Everything left outside was covered with newly laid dew, with a heavy scent of fresh pine drafting all through the city. Chirping songbirds and the distant sound of hammer pounding steel and axe chopping wood beat out a pleasing rhythm. "To watch as brothers and sisters wage war is equivalent to letting war come upon your very own doorstep." The stone mason finally said after gazing upon the scenery. "Not caring..is the same as letting it happen." It was only the first light of dawn, the sky askew in a display of orange and purple on either horizon. The sun was beginning its never-ending task of washing away the embrace of night and bringing in the warming rays of day. Just then, another person came from the shadows of Idlewood Estate to greet the brothers before they set out. He was clearly the older brother of them both, as his appearance hinted to combing the best of both William and Austin. His attire was similar to Harry's, ready to work for the entire day. In his hand, he held the hand of his beautiful fiance. "Good morning. You didn't hope to set off without saying goodbye, did you?" He asked sarcastically. Of the two brothers in question, the third one was no doubt older; looking much stronger and noticeably taller than William or Austin and probably twice as charismatic. Austin simply laughed in response. He began to speak up, but was silenced by Harry. "No need, Jacob. They already know you'd go with them if you could. However, with your wedding so close you can't just abandon your love." Nodding in agreement with is father, the eldest brother continued. "You'll come back. I know it." After reminiscing about good old times with everyone present for about an hour or so, William and Austin would be off. They were heading northeast, towards the base of operations for the rightful heir to the throne--Conall. The Aegis Present Day Coming to a halt on the outskirts of the long known impenetrable fortress, Austin marveled in the pure strength it imposed to those who looked upon it. Maybe this was one of its purposes though, for invaders to see this fortress of unyielding vigil and be struck with fear. "At last, we've made it brother." |
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In War; Victory. In Peace; Vigilance. In Death; Sacrifice. Dawn Eros (hot mama): Spoiler: click to toggle | |
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| oniskieth | September 3, 2012, 12:37 pm Post #13 |
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The Silver Light
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William of Idlewood The Aegis William crossed his arms as he looked forward to the impenetrable fortress that was The Aegis. It had been only two years since he stood in this same location when he and his brothers first enlisted two years prior, but now that moment felt so far away. The kingdom had experienced so much change since then. This was a new experience for the two brothers. "Once we go through that gate there's no turning back. We don't have Jacob watching our necks, either. Are you ready for this?" The young man said looking over to his younger brother. He had his shield and spear in hand, and you could tell he was a veteran of the northern war by the scratches in his weapons. "Lets do this, for Logres." It didn't take long for the two brothers to make their way into the fortress. It was surprising how easily it was to make your way into a key stronghold while the country was at war, but it would have to be if the king was sound a call to arms. Before too long the brothers were waiting outside Conall's temporary throne room while a door guard called them in. "King Conall, two boys are here to see you." The guard said as he signaled for Austin and William to enter. "They claim to have served under you against the northerners." "We're from Idlewood, my king." William said stepping forward, "We're here to help make this kingdom whole again, as Knights." |
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Katherine's Approval
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| Perascamin | September 3, 2012, 1:00 pm Post #14 |
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A Legendary Ocean
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The Aegis A Knight's Oath Laughing at the swordsman's remark, he replied with a grin. "I'm sure we'll be able to manage, especially if Jacob expects us to come back." Austin followed William through at an even pace, never straying ahead or lagging behind his side. Turning his head slightly, the soldier took in the scene of the fortress. It was exactly like he'd remembered it; new recruits and veterans sparring with one another and giving advice to their combatant if any was to be offered. In particular, Austin noticed an obvious new-blood wipe his partner clean to the ground. Perhaps it was just a lucky shot, or maybe the boy had actually fought before? No matter, rank didn't matter much in the army. They'd all be shedding blood together after all. Making sure he stood as tall as he could, Austin entered the temporary throne room in unison with his older brother, staying silent while he spoke. |
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In War; Victory. In Peace; Vigilance. In Death; Sacrifice. Dawn Eros (hot mama): Spoiler: click to toggle | |
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| Matttheman89 | September 3, 2012, 3:33 pm Post #15 |
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Assassin
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Kingsport Throne Room Tyrion snapped to attention upon hearing that King Rhys wanted to include him in his plans to travel to Ishi-Ou for negotiations with the Island Governor. "Your Majesty, but what of-" he started to say, only to pause when the King continued to speak over him, making it clear this was a command rather than a suggestion. Sending a member of the Royal Guard away from his post sounded strange, but Tyrion was a Knight, so that meant he had other responsibilities as well. When the King was finished, he nodded his head. "Of course, Sire." Carth began to speak then, and the by the time the Elder Knight was finished outlining his plan, Tyrion had a frown on his face. He'd heard of Carth Silvis's reputation before. He was a very smart and dangerous man. He'd been serving the Royal Family for decades, and always seemed to have their best interests at heart, but he'd heard whispers that he could be fairly ruthless when it came to achieving victory. Now he was starting to see where the rumors came from. |
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| Garm0099 | September 3, 2012, 7:57 pm Post #16 |
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Marksman
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Cadoc eyes widened slightly as the details of the mission were told to him, "Wait what? I thought I was going to only be a soldier, not a diplomat, I have no silver tongue..." he thought internally while he was able to keep his cool externally, save for his face turning red as he felt his heart rate begin to beat irregularly, "Mint leaves will fix the problem my ass..." Cadoc bowed to the king, "Yes my liege." He then turned around and took his leave of the room. As he left the room he let out a deep sigh, "Huh, well that went better than I expected." Cadoc then say Dion a few steps away and decided he should get to know the people he would be working with, "Hello, Lord Silvis, right? Nice to meet you, I'm Cadoc Owaine of House Dyfent, but you can just call me Cadoc," he extended a hand to shake the young lord's hand, "So, your father owns Silvis Mines? That's pretty interesting because that's where my family buys our steel from and what I use to forge my weapons. Good material you mine there" |
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| Onime No Ryu | September 3, 2012, 9:55 pm Post #17 |
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I'll be your Undertaker this evening
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KINGSPORT CASTLE ARTURIAN THRONE ROOM "There is no need to worry, Tyrion," said Rhys. "I have more than one royal body guard. You have experience in battle and are also well known among the people, as much for your blood as for your deeds. On a mission like this you will be invaluable." Then the king turned to Carth. "If I overestimate them, my old friend, I believe you also underestimate them." Rhys said, propping his cheek upon one fist, his elbow between the throned eagle's talons. "The common folk are capable of more than we realize, because they live in a world so different from our own. Yes, I realize that they can as easily be turned from one side to the other, and I realize that they will likely not be able to take the city themselves. But if they act in secret, rather than openly rebelling, not only does it increase their chances, it slows the word from reaching my brother." He closed his eyes, envisioning what future might lie in wait for Westbridge. "If I make them this offer, it says to them that I am willing to trust them with this task. It says I am on their side. It makes them think that not only am I the one to follow, but also that I am relying on them. It gives them a power that they do not truly have--a placebo of sorts, to spur them to greater feats than they would normally be able. Certain men among them likely need to be culled, it is true--that is why I will place these men upon the front of their charge, when I have the letters written. Other men, perhaps, are more reliable. These I will place at the backs of the first men, to prevent them from turning so easily. The plebians will follow behind...and you," he gestured to the collection of knights before him, "will follow them. If their leaders reveal their true, sour natures, they will be slowed by voices of dissent among them. If they break under their own corruption, by the time they turn you will be there. When placed into a corner even a mouse can slay a cat. If they are caught between you and the enemy, do not engage them--herd them like lambs to the slaughter. To get away from you they will shred my brother's men to pieces. If they are all slain, then you have nothing to worry about. If they seize the town but will not give it up, you can easily take it. The same is true of my brother's weakened forces, if they 'grind them to meat,' as you so aptly put it." Rhys pointed one finger at the ceiling and made lazy circles as he spoke, mimicking Carth's logic. "You do not trust the peasentry, and so they despise you. They despise you and so you do not trust them. If they are crushed by Westbridge's defenders, then your plan can continue without a hitch, Sir Carth. If they succeed, not only have I still captured the city, but I have also inspired the smallfolk. The people can overthrow a king just as easily as his enemies, so why not make an effort to keep them happy? If you continue to find traitors and corruption and all of these things, well, that is what the law is there for, is it not? Just make sure that when you give them trial and sentence, it is for their misdeeds against their fellow men. Turn the commonfolk that they hope to use against me against them. It means little to the farmer, the smith, the butcher if their neighbor the baker has slandered the king. Far more does it offend to know that he has stolen the farmer's grain, cheated the smith, or bedded the butcher's daughter." The king waved the elderly knight away gently. "Now, my friend, sup and rest after your journey. Even though you ride with Sir Owen and a member of my own royal guard, you have seniority. This mission will likely demand a great deal from you." As Carth and Dion made their exit, Rhys sighed and turned to Tyrion. "Ah, what sort of king am I, Sir Stark, to treat my people so? You know firsthand the world of the people; what do you think of Sir Carth's plan?" THE AEGIS MAIN KEEP CONALL'S THRONE When the door guard announced two more soldiers come to enlist, Conall waved them through. One of the officers at the table seemed to recognize the two boys; they had been in his regiment during the war, and while he didn't know their names and only had a handful of recollections of seeing them fight, he knew they were soldiers and had done decent work. He whispered as much to the king. But when the boys spoke of knighthood, the table burst into laughter--all except for Conall. The king quickly raised a hand for silence. "Forgive my associates, but while you two served well in the war against the north, I am not my brother. I do not give away such a thing as knighthood so easily." He wrapped one hand over his fist and leaned atop his knuckles, looking at them across the long table. "Do you know, young men of Idlewood, that it is more to be a knight than to look at a man and kill him? I have thousands of soldiers, and less than a tenth that number of knights. You could tell me why, I suppose. Even toddlers know the 'stories.' The legends. The old heroes who were farmers and rose to greatness. Why only the few, the brave, the proud become knights. But rather than tell me, I would like you to show me." He leaned back in his chair with a smile and motioned to a servant. "Draw up chairs and serve our soldier boys with the rest of the men, they've come a long way. Young men, your re-enlistment is accepted, and after you've eaten I'll have someone lead you to the barracks." As Austin and William sat down, their former commanding officer spoke to them. "Idlewood is right upon the border of Prince Rhys's territory, is it not?" the man asked. "Have you seen any patrols or the like? Has he begun to advance towards the Broadback?" |
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| Perascamin | September 3, 2012, 10:28 pm Post #18 |
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A Legendary Ocean
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The Aegis Austin couldn't help but bow his head as everyone laughed at the two brothers. He could feel his cheeks turn a faint shade of pink from embarrassment, but faded entirely as Conall motioned them forward. Sure, it wasn't the best start possible..but they could get somewhere with this. Setting his weapons aside for the moment, the soldier waited for the free meal to come. However, a familiar face asked them a question. It was their commanding officer during the war with the north. At least there was someone here who knew about their ability. "We passed through Gloria on our way here." Austin said, clearly and loudly enough for him to hear. "Unless much has changed in the past two and a half weeks, Rhys hasn't even begun to move towards the Broad-back. We definitely didn't see anything passing through either." |
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In War; Victory. In Peace; Vigilance. In Death; Sacrifice. Dawn Eros (hot mama): Spoiler: click to toggle | |
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| oniskieth | September 3, 2012, 10:53 pm Post #19 |
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The Silver Light
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William of Idlewood The Aegis William lowered his chin as the entire room, save Conall, laughed at his brother and he. Not only had he embarrassed himself, but he also brought his brother done with him. This was one of the things the older brother hoped he could protect his brother from. Once the king motioned for silence William's chose rose back to the air. He wouldn't show traces of what had just happened. "It was stupid of me to say," William said once the king finished, "We came to you because your brother thinks a Knight is something to be given away to anyone who bends a knee to him. We grew up on the tales just like the rest of Logres. We know what it entails, and we know we'll have to earn and deserve it. We're ready to walk this road." "Yes sir." William said as he moved to one of the chairs the servant had pulled. He didn't expect this, but he couldn't refuse the offer. Reaching for meat William heard the officer's question. "The roads are abuzz with travelers right now. We came across many bearing weapons, but they carried no crests or colors. I had them figured as mercenaries walking back and forth, planning which side to join." Edited by oniskieth, September 3, 2012, 10:55 pm.
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Katherine's Approval
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| The Best | September 3, 2012, 11:52 pm Post #20 |
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Scout
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Red THE AEGIS Dust rose in playful spirals as the wheels on the cart turned, pulling Red ever closer to his destination. A pothole in the road caused the cart to jolt suddenly, discomfort shooting through the man's side. Tenderly, the man poked his ribs, displeased to find at least two, if not three of them broken. An injury like that could only be healed with time, and that was not something that Red had a lot of. Since I failed this job, there definitely won't be a paycheck in it for ol' Red, and I only have a bit of coin from protecting those farmers last week... If I don't get some new work soon, I might be out on the streets again... The thought made Red cringe in disgust. Moving so suddenly caused more pain to go lancing through the man's body, and he regretted it instantly. Letting out a discontent sigh, Red eased himself lower into the cart, letting his back rest on the wooden frame. Quite a mess I've gotten myself into here, that's for sure. A shadow passed over the cart, causing Red to look up. As he did so, the man's jaw dropped involuntarily. They had just passed through the largest gates Red had ever seen in his life. When he had first arrived in Kingsport, the young islander had been impressed with the size of the castle there, but it paled in comparison to the behemoth that was The Aegis. I bet they could post a single competent archer at each corner, and hold off Rhys' entire army in this place. Red felt himself gawking, so he quickly closed his mouth and just looked around with curious eyes. His master had been right; these northerners were capable of some incredible things. That's exactly why they're so dangerous though. After a few minutes, the cart came to a halt, and the outriders who had been so kind to offer Red a ride led him to The Aegis' infirmary, where he was shown to a bed and told to wait for the nurse. While he waited, Red gingerly undid the straps holding his armor in place, letting his breastplate and gauntlets fall to the floor. For now, his greaves stayed on. There were a few minor nicks and scrapes on his legs, but nothing severe enough that Red was willing to strip for. Laying down on his cot, Red propped himself up on one elbow and scanned the room with his eyes, waiting for his nurse. Hopefully, she's cute... ((Onime, this can either be your cue to step in, or I can do the nurse myself and just wait to talk to Conall before you have to get involved. I just want to ask the nurse a few questions about the keep and Conall and stuff, sort of get Red up to date on exactly what's going down in Logres. You can admin her, or I can, up to you.)) |
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| NTNP | September 4, 2012, 4:23 am Post #21 |
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Admin
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Silvis Family King's Port Slowly a smile came across Carth's face as he thought to himself. My Prince, I know that you love to see yourself as the idealist... the saint with unbloodied hands but your plan is truly no different than my own other than intent. Only I do not bother with half hearted hopes while preparing for the worst, I expect the worst and if I am lucky enough to be surprised I adapt then. However, the truth was that Rhys was already bending to his will ever so slightly. If the only difference was theological then that was nothing to worry about. It wasn't that common that Tristan and he had agreed on such things in the realm of hypothetical but when the sky darkened, he always seemed to agree. "I will do as you ask and request that they wait until our arrival to make their move rather than just before and to attempt to sort them by loyalty, as difficult as that might be." With that Carth bowed for a moment and then moved forward, ever so slightly. He whispered something, just barely loud enough for his dear Prince to hear. "I hope that you keep that innocence as long as you can. I know that you hope to be a greater ruler than your father. To lead without fear, conquest and brutality. Should the need ever arise for something truly vile, not merely an act of war that requires a stern hand but one that, as you say, begets this never ended cycle of hatred... I'll act as I did for Tristan. My family is old, our forefathers settled this land hand in hand. This ancient blood keeps my family intact, no matter our actions because we do not step into the limelight but instead stand behind yours. If you ask of it, I will do whatever is required to see you safe and your throne protected. No matter the cost, no matter the vile despair that it might bring. Do evil unto evil, as they say." After no more than twenty seconds of muffled words, Carth moved back a few inches and announced his departure in a more natural tone. "Now if you'll excuse me my liege I doubt dear little Dion will have prepared a ship, gathered the necessary items for our voyage nor made preparations for the next few days on his own. He is just a squire after all. If time allows I'll stop by after our voyage is over and hopefully we can catch up on things that are a little less perplexing. Perhaps seeing another one of your paintings? I always enjoyed them so." Meanwhile Dion seemed to somehow get into a conversation himself. The young lordling was standing side by side with the new comer knight, happy shook his hand and started rattling on while taking the occasionally look around the room. Standing side by side, it was quickly clear that the Silvis boy was a bit taller and generally healthier looking than the somewhat jittered man standing before him. "Oh yeah, Cadoc right? Its nice to meet you. Yeah my dad owns Silvis Mines, iThe same is true for the various jewelry shops in Bristel, the rather paltry blacksmithy in Gloria, Westbridge's iron district and the Aegean forges of Conall's forces that belong to my uncle Myrion. Maybe you've met him? But what about you? I haven't heard much of your house before except from uncle Myrion when he's talking about his business stuff." Edited by NTNP, September 4, 2012, 5:17 am.
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| NTNP | September 4, 2012, 2:25 pm Post #22 |
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Admin
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A mild timeskip: Sometimes a narrative seems to need a push to get going again… Carth Silvis Kingsport Port It had been around a full day since the summons at Castle Arturian. For some this had been a rather leisurely time, spent speaking gingerly in the courtyard, preparing for the voyage with one last night enjoying the pleasures of the capitol city. But for Lord Silvis it had been anything but. A normal voyage was something he had never enjoyed; perhaps it was from his common bouts of seasickness or from his experiences during the various conflicts that had arisen with the Yamas before this point. For a man that excelled in open combat atop a horse, galloping into a battle or fighting upon the lines of heavy infantry with lockstep he had developed in a way that favored having a large around to move around in. On a boat, he was lucky not to run into the damn walls when walking around yet alone in a chaotic battle. Honestly this was all kinds of a bad idea, but Rhys had asked him to do it. Time and time again that family had asked things of him that he wished they didn’t, but his answer had always been the same. Just like now, he had accepted his fate and made his way along with the various necessities of the day. With the morning light starting to fade into the mid-morning haze, it seemed as though the port was a busy as ever. Even though the majority of the merchants were too timid to try the waters with the whispers of Yaman hit and run assaults, the military had no such luxuries. Large contingents of men had been set to this task to create a force this large. If Rhys had been accurate, Carth expected somewhere near 20 men a ship, with six ships being commissioned for this mission. At minimum that would give them nearly 120 sailors to keep track of, let alone any soldiers accompanying them. Honestly Carth worried about leaving with such a mass of soldiers in this time, it almost seemed like a waste. If the Yamas chose to attack them, their chances would be minimal against an entire nation mostly composed of a navy. And an invasion, while entertaining to imagine, would be nearly impossible with so few. All this really seemed to accomplish was to weaken the town. He hope that Rhys was prepared for that and had made provisions. Either way it mattered not. Walking back and forth in front of one of the ships, Carth was supervising his belongings being brought onto the ship for this particular endeavor. He wasn’t armed as if he was going into battle, encased in steel. That would only beg to be knocked overboard. Instead, he was wearing a rather bulky looking grey jacket with green patches underneath the armpits and down the side. Underneath was a small tunic of chainmail with leather armguards to help in case of any dangers. Moving on, his pants seemed to be made from the same thick cotton and style, had reversed colors making a gray stripe and the rest green. The same type of leather had been used for the leg guards, nicely hidden underneath the cotton. He was like a wolf in sheep’s clothing. At a distance he appeared to merely be an overweight noble, but underneath he wore the markings of a barbarian. As Lord Silvis continued to pace, awaiting someone or something a few porters were walking in front of him, carrying some boxes that seemed to be his. Most likely his armor, weapons and other equipment that he might need should things turn ugly as they always seemed to. In almost every situation he had seen in the past few years, everything always devolve into bloodshed given enough time. While optimistic, he deeply doubted that they would get through this without violence ensuing. Hopefully they would be departing soon, leaving behind courtly conversation and getting on to the task at hand. |
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| The Best | September 4, 2012, 4:31 pm Post #23 |
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Scout
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Red THE AEGIS ~ Infirmary Before long, a young woman walked over to Red's cot, clipboard pressed firmly against her chest. Her garb was plain: white robes with a large, red cross emblazoned on the front. Though her clothing wasn't exactly flattering, as she walked, Red noticed how the fabric slid over her large hips and around her chest. The man's gaze wandered towards her face, and one eyebrow raised involuntarily. Long, blonde hair barely brushed her shoulders as she leaned forward, pressing the back of her hand against Red's forehead. Color rushed to his cheeks as he looked straight ahead, the nurse's bust bouncing mere inches from his nose. "Hello!" She began, a beautiful smile plastered across her soft face. "My name is Sara, I'll be taking care of you." Red couldn't help but look away from the woman; her eyes were so blue, it made him uncomfortable. The first time Red had ever seen an eye color that wasn't brown was when he first arrived in Kingsport, and that had been a shock in itself. This girl though... So... Blue... "Umm, hello?" "Huh?" Red blinked deliberately. "Sorry, what?" His nurse raised one hand to cover her mouth, giggling. Had he been standing, Red's knees would have buckled. "I asked you what your name was, silly!" "Oh," Red scratched his head, chuckling. "My apologies, my name is Red. Red Waveborn." "Well it's nice to meet you Red!" she responded, extending one hand. Gingerly, Red wrapped his hand around hers, marveling at how soft her skin was. There was a short, uncomfortable silence before the woman coughed once, then giggled again. "You're supposed to shake my hand when I hold it out to you! Haven't you ever shaken anyone's hand before?" Red awkwardly shook the girl's hand before dropping it suddenly, cheeks darkening even more from embarrassment as he mumbled some apology about not being familiar with Logres' customs. Once again, she just giggled and patted Red on the shoulder. "Well, it's nice to meet you, Mr. Red! You're kinda weird, but I like you! Let's get you patched up!" The next ten minutes passed by in a blur of bandages, ointments and an endless string of words from the nurse. She spoke of the Aegis, and its lord, King Conall. Though he spoke little, Red learned much from what she said, only offering affirmative statements or small shakes of his head when prompted. At one point, he briefly explained the situation that had caused him to wind up in the infirmary, and his nurse seemed genuinely concerned, berating him for being so rash. As she worked, Red couldn't help but stare at the girl--Sara, her name was Sara-absolutely transfixed. He had fancied girls on the island a time or two, but his skin always made him an outcast; no girl on Yamajima ever looked at him as anything more than a pest. Now though, in this strange new land, here was the single most beautiful girl Red had ever laid eyes on, and she actually seemed to like him! She continued to talk, but for the most part, the fist-fighter tuned her out, until something piqued his interest. "--And apparently, Conall's been hiring all kinds of mercenaries to help him fight his little brother, but I'm like, why can't we all just love each o-" "Wait, say that again." "What? We should all love one another?" "No, before that." "Oh, about Conall hiring mercs?" There was a ripping sound as Sara tied off the last bandage, patting Red with a small smile. "Yeah, he's been hiring anyone who's handy with a blade to bolster his army. I hear that he even bestows knighthood on the strongest of the strong. Don't quote me on that though. I'm not too informed on all that war stuff. I just fix the soldiers when they come back broken." A sad look crossed over Sara's face, but she quickly concealed it with a half-hearted smile. "Anyways, you're all patched up!" "Thank you." Throwing his legs over the side of the cot, Red slid off slowly, muscles tensed to see where he still hurt and where he didn't. To the man's surprise, he felt only minor soreness; Sara had done an excellent job. Both of his arms were bandaged, and a particularly large length of white linen was wrapped tightly around his chest, but otherwise, Red looked ready to go. He turned to Sara, holding out his own hand this time with a small smile. "I can't tell you how much I appreciate your help, Miss. I owe you a debt." "Aww..." Her feet kicked a non-existent rock, fingers laced at the small of her back. "Don't mention it! It's what I'm here for!" "If I could ask one last favor of you, I would be extremely grateful." "Name it!" "Where can I find this King of yours? This man, Conall?" Sara quickly explained how Red could find his way to the Throne Room from the Infirmary, and the man shook her hand before stepping back and taking a bow. A quizzical look crossed the nurse's face, but she said nothing, simply smiling as Red turned to go. When he reached the door, the man turned back, a troubled look in his eye. "I..." His gaze drifted down, eyes darting from Sara to his feet as his cheeks grew pink. "I hope to see you again, Sara." "Aww!" The nurse clasped her hands together over her heart, grinning. "Don't worry! If you join Conall's army, I'll be here to patch you up every time you get hurt! Nurse Sara, at your service!" The girl gave a smart salute, winking playfully. Red's face turned beet red, and he nodded quickly before dashing from the room. Sara's laughter followed him down the hallway as he headed for the throne room. Once there, Red would announce himself and state his intentions, asking for an audience with Conall. Edited by The Best, September 4, 2012, 4:33 pm.
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| Matttheman89 | September 4, 2012, 6:55 pm Post #24 |
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Assassin
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Kingsport Throne Room "I think it is...dangerous." Tyrion replied, choosing his words carefully as King Rhys asked for his opinion on the plan that Sir Carth had put forward regarding how to handle the commoners. "If I may speak plainly, a King may lead a country, but that country is nothing without it's people. The King doesn't grow a nation's food, or run it's forges. It is as you told Sir Carth. If the commoners aren't treated justly, they will go against you. We can't treat them like disposable pawns and expect them to follow us. A King should always act with his people's best interests at heart, or he risks having his kingdom fall apart from the inside." Feeling he'd said his piece, he took a few steps back from King Rhys, and bowed. "If you'll excuse me, Sire. I need to make preparations for the task you've given me." Once given leave, Tyrion straightened, turned on his heels and made his way out of the Throne Room, already thinking of what he would need to do before setting out tomorrow. -- The Next Day Tyrion found himself at Kingsport Port alongside Sir Carth, watching him making the last minute preparations for their trip. He had removed most of his armor for this trip, and at the moment was wearing his traveling clothes. A simple tunic, pants, and a green cloak overtop of it all. He was still wearing a few pieces of armor here or there, but otherwise looked little like the Royal Guard of yesterday. His sword was still strapped to his side though, as was his shield to his back. "Do you think this mission will go as smoothly as King Rhys hopes, Sir Carth?" Tyrion asked as he watched all of the ships being packed. Tyrion was still, by all accounts, a greenhorn when it came to Knighthood, while Carth had been a Knight for many, many years. It was clear that the two of them likely thought differently on many things, but Tyrion still respected the man for his experience. |
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| Onime No Ryu | September 4, 2012, 7:22 pm Post #25 |
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I'll be your Undertaker this evening
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KINGSPORT CASTLE ARTURIAN THRONE ROOM "Quite right, Sir Stark. You are dismissed." As Carth also had his final say and left the hall, Rhys could only shake his head. Old friend, perhaps you are never disappointed when you expect only the worse...but that just means that everything better comes as a surprise. I do not wish to be caught by surprise...not by my brother nor anyone else. And so I will plan. To the Knights of Logres, and the nobility who were just as well versed in all the knightly ways, there existed a manifestation of Valor. Their mastery of the ways of battle instilled in them a certain extraordinary sense, a new layer upon their vision. When one has mastered weapons, and combat, and experienced bloodshed, and gained the strange sensation that the human mind can only experience within the chaos of something like a battlefield, that flow of thought that ceases to be a language ordered in words to become an ordered strategy and instead becomes only a stream of action from one second to the other, they begin to see things differently. To know a man's worth by the width of his shoulders or his arm or the lean of his spine. To see a man's thoughts in the twitch of his hand and the gleam in his eye. To see a man's weapon and know all the ways in which he can strike, and in which the defender can counter. One did not have to be a Knight to see those things, but only the Knights experienced them to such a degree that even that seemingly supernatural sight reached even greater heights. And it was at this peak that Valor began to appear. Taking all shapes and sizes, it was if one were looking at the reflection of a man's very soul, his entire being. Often Valor was hidden or suppressed, for a Knight could not broadcast his strength among enemies. But often it appeared when a Knight unleashed his Skill, those techniques of battle honed by years of use and refined into something more than mere movement. And other times it appeared, as it did now, behind King Rhys. And so I will plan...for every eventuality. As if seen through the sheen of a blue flame, massive gears and cogs turned in a rhythm, compressing springs and moving levers in some monstrous machine that could not be seen, though its weight was heavy. With every thought of the young king, the gear turned another click. Whether the people rebel against me, align with me, betray me, love me, curse me, bless me...Whether my brother moves to the south, the north, the west...Whether this, whether that. The prince closed his eyes, and all the gears began to fade away. I will plan for it all. ((Guys in the group setting off for Yamajima, it'll take a few weeks by boat. I have some stuff I could throw at you if you want events, but I suggest getting to know one another and maybe doing a bit of character development as well. When you're as done as you're gonna get you can time-skip to landing at Ishi-Ou. I would suggest PMing each other so you're all on the same page.)) THE AEGIS MAIN KEEP CONALL'S THRONE "Yes, mercenary bands have been moving rather frequently." confirmed another officer. "However, they're just as like to extort locals for protection money as they are to choose one side or the other. And it's always their own hide they're worried about--no honor to them." "Still, they have their uses." said another. "And I find gold to be far more binding than oaths, in many cases." As the conversation drifted to the general goings-on, the door guard announced yet another man wishing for audience. Conall gestured for them to let him through, but when he saw the bandaged man--or more accurately, his face, he paused for a moment, as if trying to recall some faint memory. "Speak." he said to Reginald. "Are you another soldier here to enlist, or some messenger? By your wounds it would seem you had a time getting here, friend." Training Field Meanwhile, Trent looked down the edge of his sword for the third time, then placed it back upon his lap and picked up the whetstone. Before he could touch the steel, however, one of the officers who had watched his bout earlier placed a hand upon his shoulder. "It's not a razor, boy." the man said, taking a look at the blade. "If your sword edge is too sharp it'll snap or shatter. You want it good enough to cut, but not as thin as a hair. If your opponent wears armor you'll be using it more like a club anyway." "Thank you, sir." Trent said sheepishly, bowing his head. "I'll remember that in the future." "You have a good, strong swing lad. But keep up your training. We'll make a warrior of you yet." "Sir, yes sir!" The boy beamed as the man walked away, then looked back down at his sword. Putting the whetstone away, he stood up and began to practice the strokes the trainers had shown him today, trying to remember how his enemy had attacked him during their spar. It's only the first day...but, but I think I can do it! Soon the sweat flew from his arms as his blade whistled through the air. |
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12:29 PM Jul 11