Squiring ♔ and i won't cry for yesterday

[wynn]

WHO || Wynn, Arthur Pendragon, Merlin, James Watson, Riddick, Myrinlandel de Tanos, Katniss Everdeen, Andrea Anderson, and open to current Knights attending the ceremony
WHAT || A second February Squiring Ceremony...? WHAT GO ON
WHERE || Knights Headquarters, the Great Hall
WHEN || February 9th, 2012, 6:00PM
HOW || Actionspam
MUSIC || ♬ King Arthur - Steve Mazzaro

The incredibly sudden announcement yesterday of an impending Squiring Ceremony to occur today has caused considerable uproar among the more seasoned knights, who have been talking non-stop about what in the world the break from general tradition could be about. Mentions of an incredible feast to follow, before the usual ball aren't doing much to die down the gossip either. So it's hardly surprising that the Great Hall is packed to the brim with everyone who could potentially attend, craning their necks to try and see what the big deal is. As before, the Knights stand in ranks on either side of the wide stretch of red carpet, each wearing the traditional set of ceremonial armor in their possession, worked in dark blue and silvers.

Wynn seems to be waiting with a great deal more expectation than usual for the doors to open and reveal the squires, each garbed in their own newly fitted suit of armor, as is the tradition for the ceremony. It's striking as always how much of a sense of importance the event is given just by the uniform appearance of the Knights, as they stand shoulder to shoulder in rank and file to receive their newest pledges. Wynn's eyes are fastened on the door at the end of the Hall, seeming to stand more proudly than ever, one hand on the sword† hilt at his side.

The music sounds: loud, bold, proud swells, a military march. Just as the group did last week, the seven new squires are ushered inside as the large doors swing open slowly, walking in a line, side by side, past the ranks of their soon-to-be brothers and sisters in arms. There's a lot more hushed whispering rolling through the crowd this time, however, as people speculate what in the world is going on here.

Now would be a really awkward time to face plant, squires.


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

[attollores]

[Alainn pops up next to all of them, looking around, then at Merlin again with a face that clearly says "HOLY GOD WHAT?!" Then she looks at Mark and his...drawn out description of Merlin, leaning over to whisper to him, wide-eyed.]

Didn't he also turn into a fish? Right? Or something along those lines... Merlin's beard, I remember hearing that! You're right!

[She turns again to stare at both Merlin and Arthur, then back to Mark, nodding solemnly at him like she knows what he's talking about.]

[lightblindbadass]

[Riddick tenses at the sudden noise, eyes darting around, then he relaxes his pose, relieved to see that it's more for the boy to his side. The name King Arthur niggled a little at his brain, but nothing really came to him other than a sense that he'd heard it before.

Ignoring the amount of cheers surrounding him, he immediately begins to head for the exit. Standing in a room of rabid people wasn't his favorite thing in the first place with making small talk was even worse. Though he tries not to be rude and knock into people to get to the back, he tries to weave through the crowd a bit awkwardly with all the armor still on.]

open for threadjackings

[everyredcent]

[Christos' face says one thing: who the hell let change into this castle and how does he stop it? 8|

He was already on edge about having a damned squire in the first place, but then the rumors flying around, the changes in music, and now King Bloody Arthur and a feast have him looking ready to burst over here. It's a hard life.]

[ironsides]

[Meanwhile, Dovan is over in the audience near the front, lined up with the other Section Heads, looking proud as a peacock. It's been awhile since he had a squire, ok. He elbows the person beside him just to say:]

That one's mine. Looks like she was born to this, doesn't she?

[nepotism]

[Wait.

That guy?

Was Wynn serious? Fred can't help but think he looks like the kind of guy who strangles crocodiles for fun. He can tell the guy looks ill at ease and feels a little bad for him - this is probably more than a little bit much. Either way, he nods at him when they meet eyes. And then realizes Riddick probably has no clue who he is yet. Whatever.]

[lightblindbadass]

[Riddick catches Fred's head nod as he scans the room, his eyes narrowing behind his welder's goggles. He'd seen every kind of threat in his life, implied or called right out. That nod...seemed like the guy was trying to be friendly. How the hell was everyone here so fucking nice?

He scowled at the guy, then turned around again to face Wynn, ready for this to be over.]

[nosdacaraid]

Yes - exactly! A beard! [He seems remarkably excited that someone else is still stuck on the same train of thought with him.] He should have a beard.

[shootfirst]

[Kat rolls her eyes at the both of them, looking back at Gar] Who's James Watson, anyway?

[rationalizes]

[She seems totally put out that anyone would not know this] Well, he - he only won the Nobel Peace Prize and was the head of the Human Genome Project and discovered the double helix structure of DNA and-- [A deep breath] That was also in... 1962.

[shootfirst]

... You are the only person I know who would find that equally as exciting as King Arthur showing up.

[attollores]

And o'course the hat is a given, but I always felt as though he should be carrying around a big spell book as well, y'know? I mean, either that or a staff...

Or is that Gandalf I'd be thinkin' of then?

[Her face scrunches up as she tries to differentiate between the two. She looks over to Mark again, then blushes at what a nerd she must sound like.]

[spymaster]

[The armor, really is new. He's not used to it, used to moving about in just clothing. This entire thing really is new, he hates ceremonies, hates them as they're pointless and only meant to show things off and James is certain really, that this is all for show.

But he just walks, does what he needs to, because that's why he's there after all to do this, get things done so he can do more important things then be in armor he never wanted in a ceremony he doesn't want. Head held high, shoulders and backs straight, he walks, occasionally looking out of the side of his eye to see what others are doing. The sword is of little interest to him, but the people around him? They interest him.]

[nosdacaraid]

[Mark doesn't really think 'nerd', because well. He's too busy trying to pretend he knows who Gandalf is.]

Maybe he left it in his, uh, other robes.

[lissatrinall]

[Lis'sa is one of the audience members who doesn't seem at all impressed by the extra oomph of the ceremony today, and instead watches with a seemingly dispassionate expression from the front row, alongside the other Section Heads.

Her eyes rivet onto the man intended to be her squire, and she takes in every detail she can about his expression, appearance, her lips set in a tight, thin line. It's probably easy for him to tell that she's staring, but she figures he'll find out why soon enough.]

[attollores]

Then I'd say he's a bit screwed cuz his other robes are quite a ways away now. Poor fellow!

[She shakes her head in overplayed sadness, tsk-tsking with each shake.]

Been there, done that and let me tell you, it is not fun!

[spymaster]

[Has he said how much he hates ceremonies? Mostly because they are incredibly boring for a man with a mind such as he has. Sharp mind, means recitation is easy enough for him.

And he understands the words at least, there's something to be said about such an oath. Especially with the people around him at the present moment. They were certainly an, interesting group, with those names that was certain.

But his voice is even as he says the words, eyes more on where that sword is going (who knew what could happen at the moment), then on anything else.]

1/2

[nosdacaraid]

Ended up somewhere... without your clothes? [His eyebrows skyrocket, his tone laced with so much awkward, as if he's sure he heard that wrong but can't help the words from leaking out.]

[shootfirst]

[Annnnd Kat takes that moment to lean forward, grabbing Mark by the shoulder and pulling him out of his deer in the headlights face. Her voice is low, her eyes darting forward a few rows and narrowing.]

Did You-Know-Who tell you anything about this?

[attollores]

[Alainn leans forward too, not wanting to miss the conversation. Before Mark can answer though, she interjects with a chuckle.]

No, me clothes were still on, but I had only just the things on my back, and me bird. If I didn't bring anything of import with me, then I lost it forever! [She winks at him, then looks at Kat and nods, agreeing that she wants to hear about this "You-Know-Who" business.]

[spymaster]

[He sees her staring, and he keeps his dislike of this entire thing hidden pretty well off of his face, just enough dislike there, mostly in how he looks at things, the slight tilt of his head towards her because she's interesting, more so then the ceremony going on.

Now just why is she staring? Oh yes he is interested, but he's also, at least, patient enough. He's certain he'll find out the why at some point, until then, he's just going to give her a small look, almost asking her what she thinks right now.]

[lissatrinall]

[Lis'sa isn't surprised when he notices, and holds his gaze firmly, arching one brow as if in response to the unspoken question. She nods her head, just the tiniest bit, though whether in greeting or affirmation or something else, it's difficult to say.†]


† A Wisdom D20 roll of 15 or higher will note her unusual facial features as well - they seem somewhat pinched at the cheekbones, and her nose seems oddly flattened along the bridge. Even wearing all that armor, it's possible to see how wispily she's built. There's something notably inhuman about it all, but not obviously so.

[piratitude]

[The words aren't terribly hard for her to get out. It was like all the recitation and boring little lessons she'd had back home. Not difficult, persay, but tiring.

Still, even as she says it, there is a stirring in her that this means so much more. It's maybe the first time since meeting Wynn that she actually feels a little moved by the knighthood's creed.

For at least the moment the smirk on her face is smoothed away.]

[piratitude]

[Oh great, she was getting knighted the same time as a king. Why had Wynn failed to mention that?

She felt a bit of a petty surge of annoyance and jealousy.

Honestly, how did one knight a king?

Andrea stood slowly, pushing some of the hair out of her face, looking around the room as the crowd cheered and very suddenly needing a drink.]

[piratitude]

[Andrea grins crookedly at Dovan over her shoulder as she passes.

Oh yeah, she definitely got the best Knight.]

[spymaster]

[He arches his own eyebrow back, even as he he takes in her facial features, Wis 16 not seeming bothered by the oddity of them, her wispy build. Instead he just logs it away, giving her a slight nod. They'll talk later, about quite a bit he imagines.]