Minstrel Knights

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Today was the first day of a new life for a handful of hopeful knights. Today was exactly one year away from the next tournament that would select and inaugurate a brand new company of knights, prized by the different royal families living in the capital and adulated by the populace, they were the dream of many. They were all eager to succeed and so had presented themselves before the many guilds of Minstrel for a chance to be trained by the best and earn a few coins, equipment, experience and even fame in the process.

Today the whole capital was in effervescence by the appearance of various posters announcing the approaching tournament, urging the guild to have an influx of new hopeful. The competition will be rough, of course, but the rewards will be well worth it, many thought. And so our story begin, with each hopeful slowly making their way to their desired guild.

The Lucian Order, or more commonly the Priest Guild, was situated in the north of Minstrel, it's headquarters near the northern gate of the castle near the Lion lane. They were fervent practitioners of the ways of Light and thus were strong in both mind and body, their Faith giving them holy powers and they toned and disciplined bodies making their whole being one sole deadly weapon augmented by finely crafted knuckles or sharp claws, capable of both mercy and divine punishments.

The Thief Guild were in the sewers of the South District, their headquarters well hidden from those that were not one of their own or an hopeful and their connection reaching far and wide in the whole realms. They were a bunch of deadly cutthroats and skilled brigands that were ready for anything to reach their goal. They used the southern Snake Gate as the rally point and used poisoned daggers and wicked whips to discipline their enemies into complacence.

The Warrior Guild were placed near the Western Wolf Gate and were a bunch of mercenaries that were the best bodyguards around short of hiring a company of actual knights. They used swords, hammers or axes to destroy their enemies and were taking part in duels regularly to keep their skills sharp. Most were honorable and as close as a real family but there were some bad apples, as they say.

The Mage Guild was all about the unknown and about scholarly pursuit, their sharp minds dissecting mysteries like they were nothing and the occult studies permitting them to create, learn and cast strong spells with their staves of wands from the harmless creation of light to the deadly art of Necromancy. Nothing but the physical realm was out of reach of a mage.

The youths were but rookies but as they say, the first step lead to victory, and so their fate was forever altered by their intent to become one of the elite.

A figure seemed to flow in the shadows. None noticed this occurrence until they noticed that money and rings were gone from their persons. A smile formed, counting all the valuables he had collected so far until he felt a chill on his neck.

Has nobody taught you not to take what is not yours? A voice said, making the boy shiver at the tone and sound.

However, nobody noticed themselves missing these items. Who taught you to do this, boy?

The youth did not answer, for fear had grasped the neck of the reckless boy, restricting any words from escaping.

SPEAK UP!

The voice commanded authority and made the young thief jump.

I-I-I-I l-l-l-le-lea-learned this fro-from a-a-a ma-man in m-my vi-vi-village.

Well, it seems he has taught you well. Come with me if you wish to keep your treasure and hand.

The voice disappeared and a light appeared. The boy, with haste, rushed after the light as if the guard were after him.

The journey was long as the duo kept to the dark areas of Minstrel, the older man barely visible in his dark ensemble as he walked in perfect silence, his feet obliviously used to stealth. Time passed slowly for Rydis as his adrenaline addled mind processed everything at a dizzying pace. But as the sun disappeared under the horizon did the two men stop before a sewer grate, the older of the two opening the heavy barrier without missing a beat and gesturing for the younger to enter, closing the grate behind them after making sure that no one saw them.

Then came an impressive labyrinth of twist and turn and the nauseating smell of the sewers, the walk even more confusing by the regular stops they were forced to make to slay the giant sewer rats that infested the whole sewers. It was dark and dank in here, and without his guide the young dark elf would have surely gotten lost and perished in those nightmarish conditions. But soon they reached an heavy steel door.

Stopping, the more experienced thief knocked a specific sequence of knocks that seemed to go on forever before a small trap door at eye's level opened, letting a pair of shadowed eyes through.

“Password?” Said the man on the other side of the door.

“Night follows my steps” Responded the Rydis' guide a second later.

As soon as the words left pale lips did the door open without a sound, obliviously well oiled and blissfully silent, not letting anyone know of their presence. They were ushered inside and the door closed and locked just as fast as it had opened, protecting them from the eyes and ears of any outsiders.

Stepping to the other, the guide spoke quietly to the doorman and gestured for Rydis to follow him, the two entering in a large room where many shadowy personages dwell. Clearing his throat to get their attention, the guide spoke softly, his voice a mere whisper in the dark.

“I bring you a new recruit, shall we test him?” Said he to his companions.

“Let's” Said the others in unison.

And thus started the Thief test as the guide turned to Rydis and merely said:

“State your name and your master's we will then proceed to the test by gauging your abilities. If you should fail you will be slain, but should you succeed you shall become one of our Novices and be assigned training and tasks. Now do as you are told as your fate is sealed by your next actions.”

Rydis had no choice but to do as he was told...

My name is Rydis Flint. The name of the man that I know of was Reedis Sage.

Many a gasp was heard after this announcement, but no one said a word.

Rydis felt a hand put on his right shoulder and he was instantly pushed forward. He started to fall forwards before jumping on his feet and completing a kind of flip, restoring his sense of balance, before pulling out daggers from his belt and hidden sheaths. He entered into a kind of stance, ready for any kind of attack, before a clap started to be heard.

Very good. Put forth the second test.

A jangle of metal was heard before a crashing onto a surface, probably the ground, after the mysterious voice was heard.

Take up the tools of the trade, and follow. The second test shall begin there.

Rydis found the ring and found that they were a bunch of keys. He looked around to find the guide he should follow, but there was nobody. Rydis turned from side to side, looking for which way to go, until he saw a single light. He walked towards it cautiously, looking for any traps that may occur.

He found himself, once he got to the light, inside a arena, surrounded by chests.

Thy next test, find the right chest before Death finds you.

(@ Artsydaze- It is a test of logic now, and then a test of combat, is what I am thinking.)

As soon as the door closed behind him did the room Rydis was in start to fill with water, the sounds of valves unlocking and gate opening the only warning the young man got before water started to reach him in a slow and steady torrent. Trying to quell down his panic, he approached the nearby chest only to find it obliviously trapped by what seemed to be poisoned darts, a further study of the other chest presents found more or less the same chest, all trapped.

But one was trapped with fire.

Rydis recognized it for the smell of oil emanating from it and the strange symbol that he faintly recognized as a fire rune, the knowledge only in his possession because of his absentee father's amulet, a gift to his mother that protected from the deadly element. Waiting until he was nearly submerged in water, the young man started to examine the key, one smelling of the same oil as the chest standing out. As he slid the key into the lock he completely submerged himself in the water and turned the key. A fizzing sound followed by an impressive amount of steam followed. The fire being put out as soon as it was out but the water.

A click resounded in the room then and soon after the water started to drain, just in time to prevent Rydis from drowning. He was safe, and inside the chest was found a set of lockpicks. The tools of the trade. Jubilant, the young dark elf took his spoil and returned into the previous room, soaked and shivering but alive. More clapping welcomed him as a voice declared him the vanquisher of the second test.

“There is one more test. You must hold out and survive against one of us for the turn of a sole hourglass. Should you survive, you shall be known as Novice Rydis. Should you die you shall feed the rats of the sewers.” Said the voice that he recognised as his guide.

Nodding his ascent, Rydis nodded once and prepared himself for battle. What followed was one of the most rigorous spar he ever had to subject himself to, the most infuriating thing being that he did not lay a scratch on his opponent, even though the other gave him a bunch of nasty lashes courtesy of his whip. Battered but alive, he was recieved with yet more clapping, his give nodding at him and leading him to what seemed to be an old cell with a bunk bed.

“This will be your room from now on, Novice. Use it as you see fit.” And with that the other was gone.

Exhausted, Rydis fell deeply asleep. It had been a long day.

In stark contrast to the clinking and clanking of heavy armor and blades clashing against one another, a woman of rather short stature, adorned in the lightest of attire and equipped with but a single, thin blade, made her way towards the place she had so idolized from afar. A hand clutched at her necklace as she stood on the outside, peering upwards at the home of the warriors.

"No second guessing, no fear, you are ready," a mantra she had come up with on the walk over. She had her blessings from her parents, the necklace evience of that, and all that remained now was earning her way to acceptance. No was not an option.

Placing her left hand - the hand with which she was proficient - on the hilt of the blade sheathed at her side, she took one final breath and crossed through the entryway to the guild behind.

"I seek entry to this fine establishment," her voice showed no sign of fear, though at her side her hand was shaking. Not out of nerves, but out of disbelief. Her work was going to pay off, of this she would be sure. "What must I do to join your ranks."

As a precaution, her hand gripped tight around the hilt; her application could easily have started by now and if there was going to be a trial by action, she needed to be ready.

As the woman entered, she found herself in a simple yet very impressive lobby with various weapons and hunting trophies ornamenting the stone walls. Many dangerous creatures and deadly weapons were presented here as Victoire passed a cursory glance around her, hopefully, new home. Before her was a long counter with an alert woman behind it, leather armor covering her well built frame and a sharp and wicked-looking ax withing easy reach noting her as no easy prey. She was smiling at the younger woman at the moment and greeted her cheerily.

“Ah! A new hopeful trainee, I see! Please sit before me and complete these forms, it's just a basic background check, we accept no slouch or criminals, here so go back if you're not certain of your path, alright? That being said, after you complete the forms you will be ushered to the training ground for your real test. I'm Helena and I will be your proctor for the next two hours.” As she said this she never looked away from Victoire, obliviously checking for potential threat in the younger woman.

The forms presented to her were as they were referred by Helena; Some background questions mixed with medical and mental tests and looked simple enough. No battle for now, it seemed.

In the dusk air surrounding the capital, a man, or what looked like a man, in white walked slowly and calmly across the plain and through the arches of the main gate. It must be nearby, Luxe said to himself. The monks at the chapel said it was a few paces forward, and then take a right, but they never said which gate to enter. Luxe wandered for a few minutes until a hand reached his shoulders. He jumped acutely and turned around to see a kind old woman draped in tattered garments. She smiled and asked him if he was a monk. Luxe smiled back and nodded. She raised a feeble, shaky hand towards a towering, white building to the left of Luxe's present position. He nodded, thanked her, and quickly walked over towards the Church of Light.

As he entered the church, he was overcome by so many emotions. The wonderment of finally reaching his goal, the anticipation of what is to happen next, and the fear of the unknown all surged forward. He kept his composure, though, and approached the presumed head of the Church. He bowed calmly and politely. "I am here to learn, Father."

The Church was a magnificent building of pure white mingled with silver and gold, and the father shone in his white robes as he smiled kindly upon Luxe. He was a bulky man of late middle years, his light brown hair taking a silver sheen with age and his thin mouth and kind blue eyes having many laughing lines. As he heard the softly spoken statement, he smiled brightly, his white teeth flashing in the light coming from the many windows shining light into the Church.

“Welcome, young prospective initiate. We will accept you with open arms on the condition that you leave your previous life behind and begin anew. We will clothe you, feed you, train you and guide you to the path of Enlightenment in return. Are you willing to do this for the rest of your mortal life? The path of the Priest is arduous but well worth it. You will learn how to conquer your very body and commune with our lord. You will also train to become a compassionate healer and a staunch defender of the Light and it's people. If you agree, go into one of the nearby rooms to our right and dress into your new initiate attire, leave anything you brought behind to be given to the unfortunate. We will then commence your initiation ceremony.”

As he said so, the Father gestured to the small room in questions, each small and with a single bench where were folded neatly white and green robes of the Church of Light.

Luxe looked at the Father, and then to the room with the uniform of the Priest Guild - the room of his new life. For a moment he thought. He thought of his family whom he had left to follow his dreams, which his parents were unable to. He thought of the monks from the chapel, who had put their faith in him and raised him up as one of their own. And finally, he thought of the mage, and his own personal quest for knowledge. No turning back, I suppose he thought and walked over to the rooms, where he closed the curtain, changed quietly, and placed his old robes on the bench away from where the previous robes had been, as to signify that they were for the poor and not the standard attire.

The new robes fit well. Green complimented him, and he enjoyed white as a color of solace. He slowly and carefully walked back to the Father and nodded. "So when do we begin, Father?"