knightsoflegend | squiring ♔ the brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear

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squiring ♔ the brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear

♬ Troy - James Horner

WHO || Wynn, Felicity Braddock, Sydney Sage, Kyla Whelan, Dawn Summers, Ruvaen Aeraethrin, Alec Zayed Remmao, Alaric Saltzman, Niklaus Mikaelson, Snow White, current Knights attending the ceremony
WHAT || May Squiring Ceremony
WHERE || Knights Headquarters, the Great Hall
WHEN || May 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.

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

[Ruvaen doesn't recognize the sword (5) but then, he has never really paid that close attention to weaponry.

At least with a 13 Dex roll he manages to not make a full of himself walking down the carpet. This is one of the rare times he actually does pay closer attention to his surroundings. There is a lot to see here, and he might be a tad bit nervous for the ceremony itself.

On the bright side, Kyla is here, so he does not feel as out of place as he might. One familiar face is a comfort against many unfamiliar ones.]

[ Wow, that really is a lot of people watching. And not really one of them is familiar. Given the fact that she doesn't remember much of anything, though, she doesn't really expect to find a familiar face. Is that butterflies in her stomach? Ugh. Dawn's not nervous or anything, but she's nervous.

The armor isn't helping. She's really hoping what they said is true and that she's not expected to wear this too often. It's not uncomfortable, because it's fitting and all that jazz but. Well, let's just say she's really looking forward to taking it off.

The sword on Wynn's belt is very familiar (19). Too bad she's paying too much attention to that instead of where she's putting her feet (1 dex, god). She doesn't just stumble--she trips over her own feet and lands hard on her hands and knees. It's certainly one way to make an impression. Her face turns beet red, and she's too busy getting back up to her feet to notice if anyone laughed at her (cause in her head, they sure did). ]

[ There is something vaguely familiar about that sword (14, so close), but Kyla can't place it at all. Perhaps it's just something that tickles one of her many lost memories.

She doesn't exactly manage the most graceful glide imaginable (dex 9), but at least she doesn't trip or fall. She's not exactly used to trying to walk in armor, all right? And while she is used to having an audience, it's usually more on her terms than this.

She makes a mental note to strangle Ruvaen later for getting her into this mess, because it's not like she made her decisions all on her own or anything. Nope, it's all his fault now. ]

[Sydney's dex roll of 17 has her managing to walk down the red carpet just fine, looking rather comfortable there despite her rampant nervousness. Being in the center of attention is most certainly not her thing, but the fact that there are other new squires as well certainly helps.]

[Felicity misses the sword (11). Being in the armor is throwing her off her game a bit, and she wants to make sure she doesn't fall flat on her face which she manages (dexterity check: 17). She keeps her eyes straight ahead, occasionally glancing through her peripherals to see who's around, but not long enough where she might trip over something.]

[Alec has no problems recognizing the sword (18+4 he recognizes it for what it is instantly). He's not sure what to make of it, but he gives Wynn a nod of his head as he enters. The eyes on him don't phase Alec at all and with a nat 20 that red carpet is his. He carries himself in the armor like a true knight, and not just a new squire uncertain of the legitimacy of his being here.]

[Klaus has lived through the Middle Ages, so this wouldn't exactly mark his first experience moving about in a suit of armor (dex:17). He appears completely comfortable under this particular circumstance.

Alas, he's too busy returning eye contact with and remembering the faces of anyone whose gaze he catches on him ~~like a creeper~~ to notice the sword that Wynn's holding is the same one from the statue (7).]

[Alaric has no problem spotting the sword (17), mostly because there's a guy with a deadly weapon standing right in front of him. What else was supposed to catch his attention right now?

At the same time, he makes it no secret that he's uncomfortable in the armor they'd provided for him (dex: 9). He's not even trying to keep up appearances at this point. It isn't like this was practical at all.]

[Snow's eyes widen as she almost immediately recognizes that Wynn's sword is an identical match to the one set in the mile high statue. (18) ~~She gawked at the statue long enough before, it was bound to happen.~~

However, her attention quickly shifts as she concentrates on staying poised- (19) that, and the fact that she's being carefully watched. Strangely enough, though, the crowd doesn't seem to bother her.]

[ 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. ]

Felicity Braddock. Sydney Sage. Kyla Whelan. Dawn Summers. Ruvaen Aeraethrin. Alec Zayed Remmao. Alaric Saltzman. Niklaus Mikaelson. Snow White.

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.]

[It really should not come as much surprise that Ruvaen remembers the pledge word for word when he says it. A pledge is a promise and it's a bit like his prayers to Pelor.]

...and always the champion of the right and the good against injustice and evil.

[The last words ring with a surety and truth of conviction. This has been such a part of his life before now, that it seems only right it will be, here.]

[ After falling while walking in, she really isn't expecting this to get any better. More like, she's concentrating on getting through this and then maybe hiding. She should have some measure of grace, dammit, not nearly land on her face.

With the others, she kneels and amazingly (18 wis), she remembers the phrases as they go through the pledge. ]

...the champion of the right and the good against injustice and evil.

[ So she can't walk in armor, but she can manage to talk without getting tongue-tied. ]

[Sydney clearly studied all of this before hand as she says the words without a stutter or a fumble. (wis 17)

She also breathes a quiet sigh of relief when it was over. Now she just has to get through a party before she can hide in the library again.]

[ Whoops, attention span of a goldfish strikes again (wis 4). This shouldn't be hard for her considering everything she learns by heart all the time, but let's be honest here the swearing of oaths is not Kyla's cup of tea at all and she's definitely not paying attention. ]

I swear to fend off tight hoods.

[ Or something like that. ]

I swear that I shall constipate deaf men.

[ This, my friends, is known as not giving a fuck. ]

I shall not soil mine Enemy.

I shall make war against injustice, without cesspools and without mercy.

I shall never lie [ Yep, that's definitely a snort and the rest of that line gets lost.]

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

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

[ Hey, at least she finished strong. ]

[Ruvaen is giving you such a look Kyla.

You do know this look by now, don't you?]

[ She knows this look super well, and under different circumstances it would probably have made her laugh, but for once she actually makes an effort to compose herself and just sort of shrugs a little at him. Can't be helped now, can it? ]

[They were definitely going to have a talk about this later. Kyla would probably find some way to change the subject. But there really is nothing to do about it now, so he keeps his mouth shut.

It doesn't stop that all too familiar sigh, though.]

[Felicity has been practicing (wisdom check: 19). She doesn't really want to screw this up, despite her inability to make an awesome first impression -- unless, of course, it's on a grand scale.

Still, the pledge goes off without a hitch and she smiles a bit to herself at the end.]

[Seriously? A 2? His +2 Wisdom isn't doing him any favors as Alec feels his palms begin to sweat. This oath is serious business and Wynn is more than a little intimidating. He had plenty of confidence walking down that red carpet but now that he is kneeling here he feels sick to his stomach. Why did the knights want him? And why the hell had he agreed?

He fumbles for the words, his tongue feeling about as cumbersome as a mouth full of marbles as he half stutters his way through the pledge.]

I swear... to.. to defend... [He's so busy freaking out he misses the entire first sentence and most of the second as well.]

and.. dispute ...shit.

[Maybe Wynn hasn't noticed his failure. He risks a glance at the imposing man. Did anyone ever get their heads cut off for butchering the pledge?]

I will not despoil my Enemy or make war - no I mean.. I shall make war against injustice, without cessing and without mercy.

[It's not too late to recover this, right?]

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

I shall be generous, and listen to all.

[That wasn't as bad. He rubs his hands on his knees and swallows, trying to find his composure.]

I'll be always the champion of right and good against injustice ... and evil.

[This goes down without a hitch (wis: 19), and it's obvious that Klaus means every word.

Spoiler: He's a really good liar.]

[And while Alaric is able to recite the words properly (wis: 13), he comes off somewhat cynical about the whole thing. All of this ceremony seemed pretty unnecessary--and this was coming from the perspective of an outsider who had been forced to sit through Mystic Falls' many over the top town functions and mandates.]

[Snow repeats each line clearly and without pause. (wis 19) There is an urgency about her tone, showing her sincerity for what it truly is.]

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

[And after the final oath, she manages a small smile...glancing briely out over the large crowd. She has been told that there will be a party to follow, and she is definitely anxious to make new acquaintances.]

[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 Felicity Braddock. Sir Sydney Sage. Sir Kyla Whelan. Sir Dawn Summers. Sir Ruvaen Aeraethrin. Sir Alec Zayed Remmao. Sir Alaric Saltzman. Sir Niklaus Mikaelson. Sir Snow White.

[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.

[Let's be real, Alec is just relieved Wynn didn't 'accidentally' cut his head off.]

[negl Klaus is just wondering what Wynn tastes like rn.]

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

[After his own crit fail Wisdom check last month while reciting the oath, it's very refreshing to Phineas to see others flub it up.]

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squiring ♔ the brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear

The Walk

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Backtagging to the 1st.

The Ceremony

The Pledge

I think this might be my first ever Nat 20

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Dubbing

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The Peanut Gallery

Re: The Peanut Gallery