SQUIRING ♔ One does evil enough when one does nothing good.

[wynn]

♬ Troy - James Horner

WHO || Wynn, Miles Cuivre, current Knights attending the ceremony
WHAT || November Squiring Ceremony
WHERE || Knights Headquarters, the Great Hall
WHEN || Nov 7th, 2012, 6:00PM
HOW || Actionspam

The impressively large Great Hall of the castle could easily pass as a royal throne room, with its length and the red carpet leading up to a set of steps. However, there is no throne set at the top of them, and the Hall is wide enough to accommodate hundreds of Knights, in theory. Numbers are thinner today than they were in the last month or so: a number of crises have the Knights spread across the world and so perhaps fewer than one hundred Knights stand in ranks on either side of the wide stretch of red, each wearing the traditional set of ceremonial armor in their possession.

The new squire is fitted to his armor after meeting with Wynn, and it's traditional for each to appear for the first time before the Knighthood wearing it. Each new member is assured that only a very small number of the Knights make use of their armor for other circumstances, but it does create an intimidating sense of unity as they stand shoulder to shoulder in rank and file to receive their newest pledges.

Miles is ushered in alone, with a flair of orchestral music that fills the hall with as much pomp as possible. It's a lot like that last scene in A New Hope. Yeah, you thought I was going to get through an entire post being all serious, didn't you.

At the top of the steps, Wynn waits, wearing a sword on his belt that canny eyes† might recognize as familiar.

It's one hell of a long walk past all those staring, curious eyes. Luckily, it's a long musical number.

For additional dice rolling fun (optional):

† Roll or randomize a d20. Those who roll a 15 or above can spot the sword for being the exact same sword that was suspended in the statue above the Round Table, when they met with Wynn in the Prologue.
† Roll a d20 dexterity check. If your character rolls a 2 or 3, at some point during their walk they're bound to stumble. A critical fail will lead to an epic faceplant ... or worse.

Comments

The Walk

[wynn]

[Optionally play out your character's WALK OF DESTINY down the red carpet, and people in the crowd can judge them / encourage them / gawk ]

[cuivre]

[He's too busy checking out the crowd to care much about the origins of the sword at Wynn's belt (11), but he's sure as hell going to walk down the long pathway like he belongs there (16).

And if there are any judgy eyes who feel like staring, he has no problem staring right back. And ladies, they're welcome to look as long as they'd like.]

ohh my god i'm so sorry for not existing

[ironsides]

[ near the front of the crowd stands the unmistakable form of a short little dwarf, wearing an expression of pride as the music blares. he tips his head at the new recruit, placing two fingers at his brow. ]

I haven't exactly been punctual either XD;

[cuivre]

[Always good to see that people appreciate him. In silent reply, Miles grins puts two fingers to his brow before extending them away from his face in a sort of tiny mock salute.]

The Ceremony

[wynn]

[Miles gets to bear the full weight of Wynn's intimidating gaze all by himself. He waits until Miles has reaches the end of the carpet before speaking. ]

Miles Cuivre.

Kneel. And repeat this oath.

Pledge

[wynn]

[Each line is spoken separately as a call and respond.]

"I swear to defend the Knighthood."

"I swear that I shall protect all weaknesses and shall constitute myself the defender of them."

"I shall not recoil before mine Enemy."

"I shall make war against injustice, without cessation and without mercy."

"I shall never lie, and shall remain faithful to my pledged word."

"I shall be generous, and listen to and respect all."

[And finally, in ringing tones:]

"I shall be everywhere and always the champion of the right and the good against injustice and evil."

[optional rolling; roll a D20 Wisdom check in order to see if your Knight can remember the phrases properly or not so much.]

[cuivre]

You got it, boss.

[That's not to say he's not intimidated, because he sure as hell is. More than he has been by any one person, but he's not going to act like a scared little girl, either.

He kneels, and waits for his cue. Once it get's going, he responds in kind, though Wynn apparently likes to use big words, and Miles is not exactly known for his extreme intellectual prowess or memorization skills, so he attempts to make his flubs appear to be something closer to 'personal flair.' (He rolled an 8.)

The jist is there, though.]

Dubbing

[wynn]

[With a beautiful sching noise, Wynn draws the oh so shiny sword from its sheath. He lays the flat of the blade upon Miles' right shoulder, then raises it gently above his head to place it upon his left. When Wynn is finished, he returns to his place at the top of the steps, and announces:]

You may rise: Sir Miles Cuivre.

[The moment he begins to rise, the entire hall bursts into a frenzy of cheers, applause, hoots and hollering that's practically deafening. It quiets a bit when Wynn speaks again.]

We ask you to join us tonight in celebration of our newest member in the ballroom.

[cuivre]

[Oh, shiny sword is shiny. Maybe he can learn how to use one someday. Or just have one.

He behaves himself, because he sure as hell doesn't want a nick for that blade thankyouverymuch.

Once it's done, he stands, turns to the crowd, and bows quite over-dramatically before standing straight and pumping a fist in the air.]

Hell yeah, party time!

[wynn]

[ As some people join him in fist pumping or just offer friendly smiles, Wynn watches the exchange with a look of some small satisfaction in his eyes, as he returns the sword to the sheath hanging at his hip. He speaks in a lower voice, meant just for Miles: ]

You'll find clothes and provisions in the changing rooms above the ballroom, should you require them.

[cuivre]

[He glances backwards, finding a strange relief that Wynn doesn't look pissed. He just got overexcited, okay? He's pretty sure that this guy would wipe the floor with him if he wanted to, even if he's not quite sure how he knows that.]

Thanks, man. I appreciate it.

[wynn]

[ he gets the tiniest look of what might almost be amusement or something like it when he calls wynn 'man'. but other than that, he simply nods, and gestures for miles to take the long walk out as people cheer him on ]

The Peanut Gallery

[wynn]

[ALL THE GOSSIP. Anyone in the crowd can make threads here to talk amongst yourselves.]