squiring ♔ our duty is to be useful, not according to our desires but according to our powers

[wynn]

♬ Troy - James Horner

WHO || Wynn, Violet Fiore, Dimitri Belikov, Rose Hathaway, Lila Zacharov, Robin Goodfellow, Reynard, Amrita Bharadwaj, current Knights attending the ceremony
WHAT || March Squiring Ceremony
WHERE || Knights Headquarters, the Great Hall
WHEN || March 1st, 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. 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.

Comments

The Ceremony

[wynn]

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

Violet Fiore. Dimitri Belikov. Rose Hathaway. Lila Zacharov. Robin Goodfellow. Reynard. Amrita Bharadwaj.

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.]

[littledhampir]

I swear... [Even without a Wisdom check of 21 Rose probably would have gotten this right. She's been repeating people's words back to them as a form of mockery for more than a decade. The brunette manages to not sound like a smartass as she does so, even if she thinks all this 'ye old English' is kind of ridiculous. She may or may not be mentally crossing her fingers for the respect all part... Because she's Rose.]

[bittersweeter]

[And I swear... that song breaks into her head in the middle of her vows but she's a professional liar so it doesn't get the best of her (wis 19), but her gloved fingers drum against her thighs in tune with the song.]

Hmm, something about lying... I shan't do that.

[Not even sorry.]

[likeagod]

[Wisdom: 20. He repeats the words calmly, easily and perfectly. No extra flair or words necessary, he thinks they do the job well enough themselves, and he has respect for them.]

[faeconman]

"I swear..."

[ Robin never has any trouble remembering words, and it remains true here as well as he gives his vows with an easily recognizable but rather well-behaved Welsh accent. ]

[smugfox]

[Remembering the words really isn't the problem here, he's actually a natural at that, always had been.

The problem is mostly his attitude and creativity, but luckily the others are loud enough to mask the changes he mutters to the oath.]

"I swear to defend my hood."

"I swear that I shall project all weaknesses and shall constitute myself the offender of them."

"I shall not recoil before mine Enemy." Unless it seems like the smart thing to do.

"I shall make war against injustice without cessation and without mercy." Although that seems a bit harsh.

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

"I shall be generous, and listen to and respect all." Who deserve it when I feel like it.

[Clearly it helps to talk fast and quietly.]

"I shall be everywhere and always the champion of the right and the good against injustice and evil." Wait, don't we get weekends off?

[Welcome to knighthood. Seems like a promising enough start.]

[exuviae]

[ She manages her pledge well enough, though she hesitates a little on the longer phrases. It's more out of a fear of getting it wrong than not actually being able to recall what was just said to her, it would sting her pride quite badly to mess up on an occasion such as this. ]

Dubbing

[wynn]

[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 Violet Fiore. Sir Dimitri Belikov. Sir Rose Hathaway. Sir Lila Zacharov. Sir Robin Goodfellow. Sir Reynard. Sir Amrita Bharadwaj.

[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.

[littledhampir]

[The only reason she hasn't mouthed off about being careful where he swings that sword is the recognition that flashes in her eyes as she spots it (19). By the time her mouth falls open to throw out some would be, witty quip... Wynn is done and she's standing with the other Squires. Probably for the best. There's likely to be plenty more chances for Rose to say or do something stupid. Be sure of that.]

[smugfox]

[There might have been just the slightest flinch at having the sword in such close proximity to his neck, because whenever that has happened before, the occasion had been much less joyous.

It seems almost surreal and Reynard can't believe it will actually last long, but there's no reason not to enjoy the applause now that he gets it.]