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.

[personal profile] ex_noble101 2013-04-24 01:39 pm (UTC)(link)
Then I suppose there's no reason I shouldn't take you up on your offer.

[personal profile] ex_noble101 2013-04-24 10:05 pm (UTC)(link)
There's much that this world has to offer which remains entirely foreign to me.

[That plane ride, for starters. Though it's probably one of the more extreme examples.]

I don't suppose you'd be interested in showing me around sometime?

[Or assigning someone else to the task, which seemed a lot more likely. It couldn't hurt to ask though. yolo.]

[personal profile] ex_noble101 2013-04-24 11:04 pm (UTC)(link)
I'll look forward to it then.
thesleeper: (think)

[personal profile] thesleeper 2013-04-25 02:56 am (UTC)(link)
[Staring into Wynn's eyes]
What if the time comes that you need to sacrifice me to achieve this goal...?

If your treasure were in sight, how many lives would you gamble to secure it?

Do the ends justify the means, or are you one of the more sentimental types, who will let the goal slip away to save a few pawns, I wonder?

[personal profile] ex_noble101 2013-04-25 02:58 am (UTC)(link)
[And he'll strut out of there like a baws with his medieval swag, because he's still got it.]
thesleeper: (intent)

[personal profile] thesleeper 2013-04-25 03:58 am (UTC)(link)
Good enough, I suppose. I've never trusted a man who would refuse to kill me... The last man to promise to protect me stabbed me in the back... Never much liked my father, though.

[He stares into space, almost wistfully]

Promise me you won't hesitate to cast me into darkness to reach your goals, and I will follow you to the ends of the earth, sir.
thesleeper: (smile)

[personal profile] thesleeper 2013-04-26 01:53 pm (UTC)(link)
I think I'm beginning to understand you... My liege? Your grace? What's the appropriate honorific in this world?
[He asks while rolling back to a more casual tone]
Well then... Have you any questions for me?
Would you care to see my pact making in action? I've yet to contact a spirit today, so I could show you...
[He hesitates, realizing Wynn may not have been made wholly aware of the nature of the craft]
Er... Sir Trinall did explain the nature of my craft to you, correct?
I like to keep it mostly secretive, usually explain it away as old magic, which should be easier in this world... But I want to be sure you're fully informed, if you are to trust me with the lives of others.
thesleeper: (think)

[personal profile] thesleeper 2013-04-27 07:13 am (UTC)(link)
Willing and able, sir. [He smiles as he begins to relax a little] All I require is a flat surface... about five feet wide or so, if you don't mind my getting a little chalk on it, and a moment to scribe the seal. The vestige will appear and we will discuss the pact, all of it is observable, though the spirit will only react to my presence.

Anything in particular you'd fancy seeing? I'm still working through deciphering much of my family's work [He states matter-of-factly as he lifts up his journal] It takes a bit more than just knowing the rune... though all my research has been rather fruitful, I know of nine spirits I can successfully contract at the moment.

Amon grants me his sight, fiery breath, and horns. Aym was an old dwarven miser, and endows me with all manner of strange dwarven abilities. Leraje makes me fantastically competent with a bow, often useful I've found. Naberius is a personal favorite, granting me a silver tongue and all manner of rogueish charms. Ronove's a bit of an odd one, but she grants me powers reserved for well-trained monks. Dahlver-Nar is an unsightly one... legend states he was cursed, not much a fan of him. Haagenti hasn't been of much use to me, but some day I'll find a reason to call on the mother of minotaurs. [He questions whether or not that is true, but then realizes he may be boring Wynn with all the details] Ah, and then there's Savnok and Malphas. Savnok makes me as armored as a dragon's hide, and Malph makes me into a skilled assassin.

They've each got their own... potential, mind you... downsides. Typically nothing too bothersome - I've become accustomed to it.

Should I... proceed here, or should we do this somewhere else? [He opens the journal, revealing a hidden compartment cut along the bottom that holds some chalk, which tumbles into his hand]
Edited 2013-04-27 07:15 (UTC)
allmydreams: (Default)

[personal profile] allmydreams 2013-04-27 02:18 pm (UTC)(link)
Okay.

[and with that, she'll start to back towards the door.]

I'll see you around, then.
thesleeper: (what)

[personal profile] thesleeper 2013-04-29 02:59 am (UTC)(link)
Of course. [He says, following quickly behind, lingering a bit while he takes a moment to look over the artwork... Such impressive brushstrokes...]
They are called 'Vestiges,' though even to most experienced scholars they are a bit of a mystery. They exist in a realm beyond the precepts of time, space, and even reality. I had always learned that in the void between planes; the uh... filler, if you will, that filled in the space was the Astral plane. These creatures exist outside of the planes - technically speaking I suppose you would say they don't exist at all, perplexing as that may seem.

For instance, the legends of Amon state he was an ancient deity of law and order, who slowly lost all his followers to more responsive deities. When finally he lost all his followers, his power waned, but his sheer willpower refused to allow him to be absorbed into the astral plane as most lost gods will go. Then he awakened as a being beyond reality - and since he has become a vengeful spirit... There are several vestiges, who I presume are related to the loss of his following, and if you have met with them within a day, Amon will refuse to make a pact with you... Additionally, his appearance looks more like a demon now, than any servant of good.

Now, as for the pact itself... the general pretense is I host a fraction of their spirit in my vessel. They get to experience some semblance of reality again, in exchange they protect me and gift me with some of their abilities.
Edited 2013-04-29 03:00 (UTC)
allmydreams: (Default)

[personal profile] allmydreams 2013-04-30 01:45 am (UTC)(link)
[She'll nod a bit herself before disappearing out the door.]
thesleeper: (think)

[personal profile] thesleeper 2013-04-30 03:08 am (UTC)(link)
That is correct. No method apart from the binding ritual has been successful in making contact; and apart from specific cases like with Amon, the ritual never fails to conjure them forth... Now, as to whether the pact goes as planned is another matter. The stronger their Ego, the harder it is to bind and suppress them. If they are too overbearing, their appearance and personality will have more sway over you... But that is mostly a minor inconvenience.
thesleeper: (think)

[personal profile] thesleeper 2013-05-01 04:44 am (UTC)(link)
Well, I suppose that's technically a legitimate concern - but that's never happened. There are some inherent safeguards in place... at the basic level, the pact only lasts 24 hours, and with some practice it can be terminated at the binder's whim. Additionally, my vessel simply isn't strong enough to fully contain one of these spirits. They lend me but a fraction of their spirit, and it binds itself to my soul...

At any rate, there's no known incidents of anything of the sort ever happening. That would be a violation of their end of the pact.

I know that may seem odd... but it's a bit different than any other sort of binding or summoning. Take a demon, for instance - they will always try to wry out of their summoner's control, and win their freedom. A Vestige knows that they exist outside reality... The idea of them ever returning simply isn't possible. Sharing a bit of our experiences is the closest they can ever get - and they value it more than a king treasures his crown.
Edited 2013-05-01 05:54 (UTC)
cadhla: (Default)

[personal profile] cadhla 2013-05-01 07:15 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Well, someone is obviously a bit of a showman.

Or just naturally very stuck up, sometimes it's hard to tell.

Kyla leans against the door that just closed behind her and pulls a handfull of nuts out of her pocket, the sound of her chewing loud in the otherwise very quiet room as she looks Wynn up and down. It would probably be a bad idea to try to pick his pockets, right?

Right.
]

Page 15 of 40