chapter five ♔ it'll be a day like this one when the sky falls down

[eldritchweaver]

the blues - switchfoot

WHO || The Knights
WHAT || Failboat returns from the disaster in LA as the Knighthood goes on lockdown
WHERE || The castle, London
WHEN || Directly after this, Fall 2017
HOW || Actionspam

Hasmed's announcement does not brook any rebuttal: all Knights are recalled to the Castle, where they must remain until the Section Heads and Jack Chessing have spoken about the events in Los Angeles that have left the Knighthood without their usual leader.  

The entire Los Angeles area is now covered with a dark miasma that has interfered with any signals that might be sent out from phones, etc., leaving the whole world wondering what exactly is happening down there.  Final images showed horrendous monsters, a panic of citizens, looting and violence from humans and Shadowkind alike.  

Hasmed has warned of extra magical wards on the castle, and anyone arriving will immediately take notice of one very prominent one: above the entire roof of the excessively large building hovers a black and red sigil in the air, a pentagram in a circle surrounded by runes or words in an unknown language, stretching for miles.  

[ This is the social log for post-LA lockdown.  Failboat must complete the top log before being allowed to tag outside of it. ]

Comments

[somepagesturn]

[Well, this is happening. Paige winds her way through the people moving things in, apologizing profusely until she reaches Fargason and thrusts a hand at him. She has no personal reason to be upset about this, beyond not liking THE GIANT MILITARY PRESENCE, but if it keeps them safe, she can't complain.

And besides, it's better to be neighborly.] Sir Paige Lyons, Cleric of Milil and one of the members of the Dragon's Light here. I wanted to welcome you, personally, as I might be looking after you and your militia at some point.

[LOOK AT THAT BRIGHT CHEERFUL FACE.] I'm sorry we're not joining forces under better circumstances. [LOOK SHE'S JUST SAYING. WE'RE BOTH ORGANIZATIONS THAT PROTECT THE WORLD. WHY NOT HAVE HELLSING AND KNIGHTS OF THE SILVER DRAGON PICNICS...]

[banishers]

[ fargason reaches out to shake her hand firmly ] Peter Fargason, Commander of the Hellsing militia.

Some of my men don't ... take well to magical healing. I'll make certain that it's clearly on record who that might be.

[somepagesturn]

O-oh. [She clasps both her hands in front of her, and nods.] Well, Dr. Madchen is a very good physician, so we're not just clerics here, I promise.

[Buuut this isn't why she came here.] I'm afraid I've only heard things about you from whispers around the castle, so forgive me if I'm wrong, but... You deal with supernatural threats?

[banishers]

Vampires, primarily, but we have been called upon to deal with monsters of many varieties. I'm surprised Wynnefalshond didn't keep his soldiers better informed about our existence. We are London's first line against the darker creatures of this world.

[somepagesturn]

I’m sure there’s a very good reason. We do have, ah... those that some would call monsters among us, after all. It can get uncomfortable.

[she straightens up.] However, I’m well aware outside these walls, there are menaces who do seek to harm people. And I’ve been training for years now to face vampires. I’m looking forward to expanding my knowledge, sir.

[banishers]

Oh, really? I'd be interested to see you in action, then.

[somepagesturn]

[don’t squeal, Paige. Scary vampire hunters don’t squeal.]

I won’t disappoint- I promise. It means a lot to me to get this chance. I feel like I failed my team and an entire land beyond the Veil once because of a vampire, and I’ve held onto that for years. I feel like it’s... in my blood now. Not hate exactly, but... spiritual purpose leading me towards never letting anything like that happen anywhere else. Gods, that sounds so hokey, doesn’t it? Look at me prattling on about divine destiny or something when you just want to get settled.

[banishers]

Nonsense. We believe it to be our divinely ordained purpose to stop vampire-kind. We fulfill our orders in the name of God.

[somepagesturn]

Right. [That makes sense. She wrings her hands a bit.] But did you... always want to do that? Did you just wake up one day, and think, "You know, I'm a military man who believes strongly in God, and I think removing undead threats is a good idea" or did... [she blushes] Oh wow. That is a super personal question. I'm sorry. I just feel like despite the fact that this is a business arrangement, there's no reason not to get to know you all as people. This isn't ideal, Commander, but you are people. Not some... faceless group of interlopers.

[banishers]

It was actually an encounter with a vampire while I served with the British military that... opened my eyes to what was out there.

[somepagesturn]

Well, see there you go. We're not so different after all. [And she hopes maybe the rest of the Knighthood can see that...] Anyway, I should be going- I don't want to keep you. But I'll be around bright and early for training, Commander. And, erm... Please enjoy your stay here.

[banishers]

I appreciate the welcome, Sir Lyons.