knightsoflegend | squiring ♔ it is not titles that honour men, but men that honour titles

♬ Troy - James Horner

WHO || Wynn, Sterling Archer, Sean Cassidy, current Knights attending the ceremony
WHAT || May Squiring Ceremony
WHERE || Knights Headquarters, the Great Hall
WHEN || June 1st, 2013, 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. And indeed, several 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 squires are fitted to their 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.

The squires are ushered in together, 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.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

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

[Sean bleeds charisma, okay, so he is pretty sure of himself walking down the carpet. (Charisma 22) Sure enough that he manages to smile and nod at the onlookers with his laid back Sean attitude. After pirate dwarves, apparently the walk of shame isn't too bad. Also, hey, you, pretty woman in the crowd, you get an extra smile because he can't help it, you are beautiful.

And then he trips because, really girl you are that distracting. (Dexterity 6) But he rights himself and smiles again, all self-deprecating and sheepish, but still just supremely laid back. Ain't no thang.]

[ welp i rolled and he's smiling at faith, which probably makes sense since they met on his prologue adventure... in the past-future. either way, she laughs cheerfully when he trips and covers her mouth with her hands, grinning wildly and shooting him a wink and a thumbs up. ]

[Yeah he is planning their wedding already and all the little ginger babies -- or they could adopt, Sean would be cool with that. Hey girl. He returns the wink. He'll find her later. We headed to the chapel, baby!]

[Archer loves being the center of attention, so he easily struts down the way with a Dex of 15]

Ladies, ladies please. Control your frothing loins, there will be plenty of time for that later.

Also, no flash photography... It damages the art.

[ When they have arrived at the far end of the carpet and stand before him beside each other, Wynn addresses both would-be squires solemnly by name. ]

Sterling Archer. Sean Cassidy.

Kneel. And repeat this oath.

[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.]

Edited 2013-06-03 03:50 (UTC)

I swear to defend the Knighthood.

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

[Sean is on a roll and continues on that roll, though he slips up on a few words and phrasing that doesn't come naturally if you're not British. Mine enemy, really? All in all though, Sean Cassidy gives good pledge. (Wisdom 20 total)]

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

Hey does that include moderately evil and attractive ladies? I mean, we gotta give 'me a chance to redeem themselves, right?

[... Well, he was on a roll.]

Oh my god, I'm joining a cult.
...What would Mother think?

[That thought catalyzes Archer to actually give half-a-fuck about the oath]

I, Sterling Archer, world's greatest secret agent, shall defend this fucking knighthood.

I will protect everyone, because as a paragon of chiseled manliness, I am without rival. [Not counting Barry.]

I'll never run from an enemy, except to get more ammo.

With a license to kill in one hand, a martini in the other, and a gun in the other, and a hooker in the other [That's four hands, for those counting] I'll leave a trail of corpses and brimstone in my wake.

... Lying is like - 95% of what I do.

I'll spend generously, and respect everyone's right to listen to me.

[Oh shit, did he stop taking this seriously?]

And, all that other stuff. Hooray - where's the kool-aid?

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

You may rise: Sir Sterling Archer. Sir Sean Cassidy.

[The moment the squires begin 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 members in the ballroom.

[Sean has to stop hanging out with people who randomly brandish weapons. Of course, he seriously picked the wrong line of work if that is what he doesn't want in his life but man -- if this is going to be a thing... he is going to need to get used to it. Or like, grow out his hair into lustrous ginger curls and rock an intricately braided beard. Maybe that is the key to being used to it.

But whatever, he's fine, he's cool, he is zen. He is the epitome of not giving any fucks and when he rises he does so like Johnny Storm in the Fantastic Four. Hell yes he will accept your applause and praise.]

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

squiring ♔ it is not titles that honour men, but men that honour titles

The Walk

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Re: The Walk

The Ceremony

The Pledge

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Re: The Pledge

Dubbing

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The Peanut Gallery