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

The Walk

[wynn]

[Optionally play out your character's WALK OF DESTINY down the red carpet, and people in the crowd can react to them/interact with them]

The Ceremony

[wynn]

[When the Squires have arrived at the foot of the steps, Wynn steps forward, and addresses each by name, meeting their eyes for a meaningful prolonged moment.]

James Watson. Richard Riddick. Myrinlandel de Tanos. Katniss Everdeen. Andrea Anderson. [There's a slightly longer pause as his gaze settles on the next squire.] Merlin.

[And then he turns his head to regard the final young man, and his voice rings with effect:]

Arthur Pendragon.

[The erupting hubbub of whispers is quickly shushed by his loud commandment:]

Kneel. And repeat the following pledge.

The Pledge

[wynn]

[He speaks each line one at a time, allowing them to 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, with his most reverent tone:]

"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.

The Peanut Gallery

[wynn]

[For current Knights and squires to stand around and judge you all / gossip / etc]

[befree]

[Friendliness? Excitement?

What are those things?

Katniss is uncomfortable in the armor, but refuses to let it show. She also refuses to let any emotion other than serious linefacing focus show, and she silently walks toward Wynn as if it were a funeral procession and not a celebration. She doesn't bother glancing around to make eye contact with anyone. She doesn't know them, and even if she did, she doesn't care what they think. She holds her head high and looks like a big old sourpatch.

It's a great first impression upon others, I'm sure.]

[king]

[ Arthur's face remains blank, his breathing even, quite use to the feeling of a crowd of eyes on his every move. Still, when Wynn finally moves down the line of the other six and stands before Arthur, he gets a look. He's completely onto Wynn making a spectacle of him, and given he's already been a Sir since he was thirteen, he's only here out of grace. ]

[ Still, he repeats the vows easily enough, if a little wryly. He swears to defend the knighthood and protect all weaknesses in ringing tones, promises not to recoil from his enemies and swears war against injustice. He swears never to lie, though the youth in him mentally notes that it says nothing about making Merlin lie for him. ]

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

[ An eyebrow raised at Wynn the only disturbance to his perfect pokerface. ]

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

[ He lifts his chin and awaits the touch of his own damn sword. ]

Dubstep

[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 squire's 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 James Watson. Sir Richard Riddick. Sir Myrilandel de Tanos. Sir Katniss Everdeen. Sir Andrea Anderson. Sir Merlin. And His Highness, Sir Arthur Pendragon.

[The moment the squires begin to rise, there's a heavy pause, as if people aren't sure whether to react as usual. But it only lasts for about five seconds before someone lets out a loud "HURRAH!" from the back, and the entire hall bursts into the usual frenzy of cheers, applause, hoots, hollering, and chaos. Wynn speaks over the noise with ease, his voice booming:]

We celebrate today with a great feast in the Hall, and ask you all to join us.

[witchwoman]

[There's way too many people here. And her familiar was told to stay out of the way of the formal ceremony. Myri was certain that she would reunite with him before the feast, but for now, Amaranth was not allowed to be at her side. Without him there, Myrilandel is a thousand times as nervous to be walking down the long red carpet.

Her head turns sharply at a sound in the distance, wondering if it is her faithful flywacket, come to observe from atop some perch. She smiles just slightly, but it doesn't last long. The distraction causes her to miss her step Dex Check: 2 and before she can correct, Myri finds herself falling to one knee and nearly knocking over the girl to her left in the process.]

Oh! [She exclaims as she catches herself, one knee to the ground. Myri looks at the girl and whispers.] I'm so sorry. Are you alright?

[piratitude]

[Andrea keeps any opinions she might have about uniformity and military order to herself - though the tiny, vaguely amused smile that tugs at the corner of her mouth shows she might not be taking this as quite as serious as their soon-to-be-leader seems to be.

The armor is heavier than what she's used to, but carries it well enough under the circumstances, though the grace of her movements is checked a little by the weight.

She eyes Wynn, taking in the blade at his side with a vaguely interested glance. She had an eye for blades, and this one was an exceptional piece of work. It pleased her a little that it appeared to be more than just ornamental. A sword like that deserved to be used.]

[servant]

[He's attended more of these ceremonies than he can remember - literally. He's polished the sword that's touched the shoulders of men who arose as knights. But he never expected to become Sir Merlin.]

[Though he has to admit, it has a nice ring to it.]

[Naturally, Arthur has to have something a little extra, and it's all Merlin an do to keep from rolling his eyes. But Merlin supposes he would be a little jaded to all this, all things considered.]

[He rises, smiles and tilts his head at the second best thing to becoming a Knight:]

A great feast? I like the sound of that.

[befree]

[Katniss is still interested in why exactly Wynn seemed to be salivating over Merlin and Arthur Pendragon. The names mean nothing to her, but clearly do to him, so in between repeating lines, she finds herself glancing over at the both of them curiously.

It was almost like sizing up her competition, except they were supposed to be working together.

Oh well, maybe she'll learn how to work on a team next week.

She's not distracted enough that she misses too many of the words of the pledge, and only stumbles over a few here and there. Her voice is so quiet and monotone that it's hardly noticeable, however, unless you're standing right beside her.]

[befree]

[His Highness?

Katniss doesn't quite like the sound of that. Clearly, there's a big reason Wynn is all excited about Arthur being here, and Katniss just arches an eyebrow and stares over at His Royal Highness.

It's not an angry or annoyed gesture, just one of curiosity, where she's trying to piece together the puzzle and figure out what's so special about him. He looks ordinary to her. But clearly he's not ordinary, not like her and the others, so she makes a mental note to keep a close eye on him and figure it out.


She's starving and starting to get too warm in this armor. Getting out of it and going to a feast sounds wonderful right about now.]

[befree]

[Instinctively, Katniss is annoyed by being plowed into, and she huffs as she steps away from the person that offended her personal space. She turns around to say something about how they should watch where they're going, but the sight of the other girl's hair causes her to take pause and gape.

An image of a child, one with braided, pale hair and a sad smile enters her head. She has no idea who this girl is supposed to be, but she can feel that maybe she's supposed to be important. But given that no recognition sparks at the image, she shakes it off and forces herself to stop gaping.]

I'm not hurt, so don't waste your breath worrying.

[She murmurs out a response, her tone gentle enough, and holds out a hand to help the other girl up. Now that the connection has been made of this person to the girl that just flashed in her mind, she feels obligated to assist.]

open for threadjackings in le audience \o\

[rationalizes]

[Gar's not in the front rows of these ranks, seeing as how she's not one of the 'elder' Knights, and still comparatively new, but she's gathered back by some of the others and gasps, straining to see over them and turning to those beside her in complete shock] Did he... did he really just say Merlin and K- King Arthur?

[shootfirst]

[Kat looks less shocked and more confused] ... Maybe their parents just were really into that stuff.

[Oh wait. Flaw in this.] Except for the... King part. He definitely just called him His Highness.

That's pretty much impossible: right?

[nosdacaraid]

[Mark's also on the confused train, though he seems more wary than anything.] Shouldn't he be... very, very dead?

[nepotism]

[Fred's standing a couple people ahead but he glances back at them, brow furrowed] Wynn wouldn't lie about it. [His tone makes it clear that he's also implying Wynn would know if it weren't true.]

[rationalizes]

But that's-- [Gar seems so overcome with feelings on this subject that she can barely talk, her words half a sputter] he should have told us, or explained or --

He can't just march him in here and say King Arthur's returned from the dead and Knight him.

[shootfirst]

Yeah, welp. Looks like he just did.

[nosdacaraid]

[Mark doesn't seem to have heard any of that, because he's too busy staring at the squires] I thought Merlin was supposed to be a really old guy.

With a pointy hat.

[rationalizes]

I think he also said James Watson. Which could be more of a coincidence, but it just seems so--

[shootfirst]

Like we're being massively trolled?

[She pauses, then looks impressed] If so - props to Wynn. Didn't think he had it in him.

[nosdacaraid]

[Still staring...] Yeah, there was definitely a pointy hat. And the -- [He gestures at his chin, indicating an invisible beard]

Re: The Walk

[lightblindbadass]

[Riddick walks calmly with all the rest of the squires, still more than a little disbelieving that he is going through with this. But he'd made his decision and wasn't about to back out of this chance now. And he'd been promised that, if it didn't work out, he didn't have to stay. That worked for him.

His steps are deliberate and slightly predatory, his eyes constantly scanning the rest of the Knights surrounding him. That was the unnerving part. The only other times he had been around this many strange people were when he was thrown into a new Slam and all the other convicts there were rolling out the welcome mat in the form of a first-day beating. Most new prisoners died that way.]

[lightblindbadass]

[Riddick repeats the words solemnly, his deep voice rumbling with the others as he truly considers the meaning behind the phrases. Who would have ever thought that he, Richard B. Riddick, would be taking vows like a freaking nun someday to "be everywhere and always the champion of the right and the good against injustice and evil." Not him.

He doesn't slip up with the wording, but neither does he look around at the others to see how they did. His concentration was now completely on that huge ass sword Wynn was holding up.]