wynn: (Default)
ƜуηηєfαƖѕнσηɗ ([personal profile] wynn) wrote in [community profile] knightsoflegend2012-01-19 07:57 pm

prologue ♔ chances are more than expectations

WHO || Wynn and any characters newly joining the Knights
WHAT || Initial recruitment meetings with Wynn
WHERE || Knights Headquarters outside London, England
WHEN || Anytime before the 1st of each month
HOW || Prose OR Actionspam (I'll follow your lead!) Please make a new thread for your character's arrival below.

[When you see this note in a post or NPC tag, click for musical accompaniment!]

The paths to the Knighthood are as unique as the individuals who comprise its widespread organization. But all of their tales have one aspect in common: their first trip to the castle that serves as the primary headquarters for their operations occurs blindfolded, generally with the member who had recommended them for service as their escort.

Only when the car had pulled up to the front steps of the opulent building are they unmasked and allowed to follow inside.



Within the wide front hall is what looks like a receptionist desk to the left, manned by any one of a number of usually young Knights, who make the newly arrived sign into an ancient looking tome with hundreds of yellowed pages, along with today's date, usually accompanied by a look of curiosity from whoever's working the desk. Either way, they ask no questions.

They are then directed down the main ground floor hallway, which seems to stretch on for a great distance, passing tapestries of a mostly medieval flavor, suits of armor and weaponry lining the walls, and archways that open into opulent ballrooms, extra wings with numerous doors, poshly decorated parlors and more.

It's in front of an incredibly large painting that they come to a stop, drawing some kind of keycard out of their wallet or pockets and using it to open a small glass case containing a fire extinguisher to the right of the artwork. They pull the extinguisher upwards like a lever, making it clear it's just for show, and a loud mechanism creaks behind the wall, as the entire mural swings aside slowly to unveil a torch lit hallway. Escorts leave their charges to go on from here alone, usually with a nod or word of encouragement.

There's something solemn about the long stone corridor, made only more so by the fact that almost every inch of the walls on either side is covered in paintings, tapestries, rugs, artifacts, carvings, etc. that depict various images from the Knights' history, of those in armor battling against all manner of twisted and dangerous creatures. There's another constantly reoccurring image as well - of a gigantic silver dragon battling against armies of dark elves, or just one dark elf in particular, who is often depicted with a certain circular symbol somewhere on his wicked looking armor.

More prominent than this collection of madly arranged images is the incredibly large lettering inscribed over the large doors at the end of the hallway.

Thou Shalt Defend the Knighthood.
Thou Shalt respect all Weaknesses, and Shalt constitute thyself the Defender of them.
Thou Shalt not recoil before thine Enemy.
Thou Shalt make War against Injustice, without Cessation and without Mercy.
Thou Shalt never lie, and shall remain Faithful to thy pledged Word.
Thou Shalt be Generous, and listen to and Respect All.
Thou Shalt be Everywhere and Always the Champion of the Right and the Good against Injustice and Evil.


The room that stretches out beyond those doors, however, is enough to wrench the eyes off the inscription. It houses an incredibly large, thick, wooden table constructed in the round, surrounded by at least twenty five chairs. Rising from the center from the table is a massive statue that appears to be made of glass or crystal, depicting a dragon in flight. Suspended in the middle of the statue is a proud looking sword, that looks as if it's merely hovering there because of the statue's transparent nature. The statue rises up towards the vaulted ceilings as if it means to break free and soar out of the room, creating a very otherworldly aspect to the setting.

It may take a moment for those who enter to realize they are not fully alone, as Wynn waits on the exact opposite side of the table, facing a pair of incredibly tall sealed doors, that appear to be gilded in gold leaf. His hands are locked behind him, laced white cuffs falling over them, one ring visible on his left hand. His height is intimidating, at a full six foot seven, and his posture rigid and impeccable. He wears an old-fashioned tailored coat worked with silver and dark blues, over a silver and white doublet, framed with gleaming buttons that have tiny dragons worked onto them in brushed silver. He says nothing - doesn't even so much as turn, as if he doesn't even register that anyone has arrived.

Once inside, the doors fall shut with a ponderous thud, of what seems to be their own accord.
bittersweeter: (♔ scars)

[personal profile] bittersweeter 2013-02-27 05:17 am (UTC)(link)
Wow, you must hate strays then.

[She looks down slightly, fingers tightening against her arms. She really is out of practice with telling the truth.]

I don't mesh well with your lofty tenants. [Except for the without mercy part, mercy doesn't really come into play when you can drop a guy with the worst nightmare of his life. But the subtext is a plea for reassurance. She needs help and her own sanity is tenuous at the moment.]
bittersweeter: (♔ worst part)

[personal profile] bittersweeter 2013-02-27 05:54 am (UTC)(link)
[She watches him, like a cat, until he moves behind her because she is staying just where she is. But now instead of Wynn she gets a nice view of those doors and it's almost instant, her curious desire to see what's inside.

Not the point, Lila, stick to he point.

Stupid Veil messing with her brain like Barron on an ego trip means all that Lila remembers is violence and cotton candy. Maybe that's their thing.]


You sound like a self-help book.

[Now she's just trying to be snappish because ugh, emotions. She doesn't want any of this, she wants to go home, but regrettably she has a brain that works and she knows that's not going to happen.] Why would you even want me, I'm a kid?
bittersweeter: (♔ daddy's girl)

[personal profile] bittersweeter 2013-02-27 04:11 pm (UTC)(link)
No. [Sometimes she still struggles with being a girl, instead of a cat, but. No. She's not a child. She's a Zacharov, they grow up fast. Her hand reaches up to touch her scar, reminding herself it's still there, tangible proof of the few memories she has left. Letting her hand fall away from her brief display of unease, she turns to stare at Wynn, mismatched eyes hard.] Child labor laws though.
Edited 2013-02-27 16:12 (UTC)
bittersweeter: (♔ slushie)

[personal profile] bittersweeter 2013-02-27 06:14 pm (UTC)(link)
Is that was this is, a recruitment pitch? I was under the impression that I was supposed to grovel for your mercy.
bittersweeter: (♔ words)

[personal profile] bittersweeter 2013-02-27 06:39 pm (UTC)(link)
[She waits, for the hesitation.

...huff.]
Nice sword. [A nod back to the huge statue.] Overcompensation, maybe? [Mercurial, with a dash of well if that is how it's going down why did we have to have this chat in the first place?

She needs to ask a question but she doesn't know how. Bear with her.]
likeagod: (pic#5536933)

[personal profile] likeagod 2013-02-27 08:45 pm (UTC)(link)
[The entirety of the castle and its surroundings seems slightly familiar somehow, as if he used to call a somewhat similar place home. No doubt this place is grander than anything he's seen or been inside before, but it also feels normal to be here.

Odd and comforting all at the same time.

His eyes scanned the room briefly, noting exits and possible hiding places the way they always did, without thinking about it, before they rested on the other man, who stood at equal height a fair distance away.]


How do you generally choose your members, if I may ask?

[The word 'knight' made him think of duty and honor, in which case he felt like he could be at home here.]
bittersweeter: (♔ scars)

[personal profile] bittersweeter 2013-02-27 09:53 pm (UTC)(link)
If I join, and I think we both know I'm going to. [It's not like she has much of a choice really. And she knows there is always a choice, but it's either this (which could be nice, if she ever admitted it) or turning into a petty criminal. And she has class, she's not Cassel.

She thinks... In any case, that's not a choice, it's a death sentence. Lila likes herself too much to be suicidal and she would never give anyone that satisfaction.]


If you accept me, or whatever-- [Sigh. Do you know how hard this is, Wynn?] I need new gloves, mine are ripped. I'm working on the assumption that your omnipotence extends to my... curse.
littledhampir: ♫ Counting bodies like sheep to the rhythm of the war drums (Dark Look Process)

[personal profile] littledhampir 2013-02-27 11:36 pm (UTC)(link)
[Dark brown, observant eyes darted around the room as the brunette moved through the heavy double doors. Her face was impassive, her whole body thrumming with tension, as if at any moment she might have to spring into action. She noted exits, possible weapons and obstacles, made herself aware of everything in the matter of a few seconds... Everything it seemed but the blonde who stood across the table with his back to her.

She noticed him finally, a thud echoing in her ears just as her eyes fell on the imposing figure of the man who dwarfed her in size, inhaling sharply as the whoosh of air made strands of her long brackish hair lift then settle once more.

It was not like Rose to bite her tongue and yet no sooner had she opened her mouth to demand an explanation from the stranger, she closed it, letting out the breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding, struck silent not by this his appearance but the power that came off of him in waves, the steadiness that was both oddly familiar and comforting to her.

What may well have only been a minute felt like an eternity as she waited for him to acknowledge her existence, a slightly quickened pulse, her slow and deliberate breaths all that Rose could hear as she moved not so much as an inch.

Rose Hathaway was good at a lot of things. Silence however, was not one of them.]


I'm supposed to see you.

[Immediately irritated by the fact that her tone, rather than have the disinterested edge she'd tried to inject into her words, sounded more unsure than she would have liked.]
littledhampir: ♫ Counting bodies like sheep to the rhythm of the war drums (Is that a smile?)

[personal profile] littledhampir 2013-02-28 01:59 am (UTC)(link)
[Still she hesitated, sizing him up she realized a moment later, a habit developed from years of training, one even coming through the veil hadn't been able to take from her.

Come in she did though, careful as she moved to keep a clear path to an exit, another habit. Her eyes made quick checks of the room, always returning to the man, more frequently than was perhaps needed but he wasn't the kind of person you could easily ignore.]


You know my name... [Not entirely surprised.] Anything else you know about me?

[The brunette coming to a stop at one of the chairs, her hands resting on the back of it, her stance casual enough but anyone with a trained eye would see that this harmless looking girl was braced for anything. It was curiosity that kept her here. She was fishing and didn't make much of an attempt to hide that fact.]
likeagod: (pic#5702661)

[personal profile] likeagod 2013-02-28 02:21 am (UTC)(link)
I would guess that it's a mutual choice in the end.

[He couldn't see how they could force someone to join their cause, just like he couldn't imagine someone forcing their way in.]

What do you think about my case?

[Because that's why he's here, right?]
littledhampir: ♫ Counting bodies like sheep to the rhythm of the war drums (Gonna mock you or hug you)

[personal profile] littledhampir 2013-02-28 02:38 am (UTC)(link)
[Rose straightened a little, as if preening under the compliment despite trying to keep her expression neutral, her vanity being nicely fed, right up until he called her out, her lips twitching as if a smile threatened to touch them.

She gave a small nod, a lift of her shoulders, fingers dancing along the back of the chair as she tapped them against the solid wood.]


I've had some training.

[Downplaying? Not exactly. More keeping her cards close to her chest.]

But you knew that. [Acknowledging the obvious.] But do you know what I am?

[Again with the fishing, Rose aware she was walking a bit of a fine line here but she wanted to know how much these Knights really knew about her, not just now, but before she wound up in this place and of course, Rose being Rose... She wouldn't just come out and ask him.]
likeagod: (pic#5702670)

[personal profile] likeagod 2013-02-28 02:39 am (UTC)(link)
[So they've been watching him, in a way. Not that he kept what he did a particularly close guarded secret; people in circles knew who he was, but seeing as this base was in London, they must be rather far-reaching.]

If you know that, then you likely know why. If my apparent morality is a draw, then my first impression of your organization might be accurate.

[The one about knights and honor, of course.]

What is it, exactly, that you do? What would you have me do?

[By you, he doesn't mean Wynn himself, but him and all of his associates. It's important to him. He's willing to do things, get his hands dirty, for the right cause. But only for the right cause.]
littledhampir: ♫ Counting bodies like sheep to the rhythm of the war drums (taken aback process)

[personal profile] littledhampir 2013-02-28 03:06 am (UTC)(link)
[The fingers that had so casually danced along the wood stopped as he moved, curling over the hard edge of the chair, not clenching but very aware of a possible threat as he moved closer, Rose tracking him, eyes moving to the exit then back to the man.

She silently weighed up what it would cost her to be honest with him, without realizing it, turning her body so that she never allowed herself to be anything but face on.]


Dhampir. [Looking for a flash of recognition at the word.] Half human, half vampire.

[Always looking for a reaction.]

Beyond that I can't tell you much. My little trip here did a real number on my head.

[Mostly true. She had said much, not nothing.]

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