squiring ♔ the price of greatness is responsibility

[wynn]

♬ Troy - James Horner

WHO || Wynn, Nels Llendo, Marty Faraday, Jordan Reeves, current Knights attending the ceremony
WHAT || March Squiring Ceremony
WHERE || Knights Headquarters, the Great Hall
WHEN || March 12th, 2014, 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 newest squires have been fitted to his armor after meeting with Wynn, and it's traditional for them to appear for the first time before the Knighthood wearing it. They are 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.

They enter 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.

Comments

The Walk

[wynn]

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

The Ceremony

[wynn]

[ When they have arrived at the far end of the carpet and stand before him beside each other, Wynn addresses both would-be squires solemnly by name. ]

Nels Llendo. Marty Faraday. Jordan Reeves.

Kneel. And repeat this oath.

The Pledge

[wynn]

[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. Remember that a 10 is an average person's capacity to do so. :) ]

Dubbing

[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 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 Nels Llendo. Sir Marty Faraday. Sir Jordan Reeves.

[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.

Re: The Walk

[wishuponadjinn]

[Jordan walks easily down the long hall in his suit of armor, his tall frame filling it out nicely. His eyes scan the crowd as if eagerly looking for someone, but snap back to Wynn as he nears the end of his walk.]

Re: The Ceremony

[wishuponadjinn]

[ Jordan kneels next to the other three, glancing at them before looking back up at Wynn. He repeats the oath with a Nat 20 memory check, his deep voice thrumming with resolve at the promises he is making. He was binding himself to something with a purpose and that was more than he could say for what his life had held before now.]

[wishuponadjinn]

[Jordan's face grave as Wynn unsheathes the sword, watching as the cold steel is placed on both his shoulders. Upon Wynn's command he rises, the roar of noise from behind them taking him by surprise. He turns towards the crowd, a brilliant smile lighting his face.]

[zwy_il]

[Nels strides confidently down the aisle, with the fluid grace of a Drow (Dex 22) with his gaze focused on Wynn, standing at the far end.]

[zwy_il]

[Wisdom Check of 14 - Nels actually spent some small amount of time studying the Oath prior to the ceremony, and he follows along quite naturally. He recites the words each slowly and deliberately, with a very measured pace - to emphasize his respect for the words.]

[After the end, he appends;] A'dos quarth. [Translating to 'At your Command.' in his native tongue.]

[zwy_il]

[Nels looks extremely peaceful for a moment during the knighting - like a man being reborn - before he again dons an air of seriousness.]

[He rises, and waits for a moment - taking in all the celebration already starting in the grand hall - before beginning to head to the ceremony after-party.]