Lyla

Blood of the Crown

And with that, the knight commanders, the Champion-Apparent, and the professor quickly gathered their things for the journey. Trusting them to care for themselves, the Lord Steward appointed—at least for now—the professor as the official ambassador should rumors prove true, between the group and the lost heir. As the group assembled, whispers and gestures from the crowd rippled through the courtyard. Some were aware of their mission, while others speculated and passed on the news, their bright eyes lighting up and smiles spreading across their faces.

Once past the castle grounds and at the final gate of Olenta, a small crowd had gathered to show their support. Clapping and cheering, the people raised their voices in hope. Could this be the moment that finally brought the rightful ruler to the throne—the ruler that Solarin had surely blessed? Beaming faces seemed to believe that this journey would fulfill that hope.

Leaving the city behind, the group continued on the official road, turning north toward their first destination: Greypeak Watch. The weather itself seemed a sign from the God of Light, with warm sunshine casting a soft glow, as a flock of crows swept across the partially cloudy sky. But as they ventured closer to the mountains, the wind picked up, carrying a bite to the air—a subtle foreshadowing of the rugged, snow-covered terrain that awaited them, along with the hardy people who called the mountains home.

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The lord steward leans forward slightly, placing his elbows on the armrests of the smaller throne and folding his hands together, issuing a soft hum to indicate his thoughtfulness. "I understand everyone's concerns— it would be terrible to send such powerful figures as yourselves only to find it is some pretender trying to impress a loved one..." The stoic leader sits in thought for a moment. "But, I trust Idris' Sentinels, especially since the reports come from our ancestors' ruins." Geraint gives Astlo a pointed look as he says this. "As many of you may know, many of the ruins are considered too dangerous—because of their protectors or because the doors have been sealed for nearly seven millennia or more. I think Idris only exercises caution out of habit, but these are mysterious indeed, enough to warrant my attention." He looks around the room at those in attendance before nodding slightly. "Assume these reports are not of some master arcanist who has gone undiscovered by our Grand Wizard, but indeed someone who bears the royal authority and knowledge to enter. At a time such as this, where the people feel uncertain, our own knights think and wonder, and our neighbors see weakness—I have to believe that Solarin watches over us, even if I am not normally a man of faith." The steward stews for a few more moments, perhaps allowing the seriousness of this request to settle in. "Please, if you still doubt the task, then speak. Otherwise, I would have you depart as soon as possible to Greypeak."

Idris only nods before looking purposely towards those who were tasked with leaving. "To clarify simply: these places that have been opened and entered by someone are places that not even I nor the Elder Sage have seen for ourselves." Idris' words settle heavily upon some of the others. Althea's eyes widen in disbelief as she looks from the Watcher to the Archmage, while Seraphine’s composure breaks in obvious awe of such news. There is no further word from most of the other knight commanders. Instead, eyes fall upon those tasked with the journey, expectantly.

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“Knights and courtiers alike, hear me well: The god of light has not forsaken us — somewhere, the heir of the Royal Rune walks among us, unknowing or unseen. We will seek them out, for our kingdom will stand or fall upon the blood in their veins.”

The end of the speech is met with clapping and cheers from the crowd, a clear sign of their high spirits. The excitement is palpable as the court begins to dissipate, and the halls slowly empty. As the courtiers file out, a loud whisper spreads among the remaining attendees, signaling the end of the formalities. However, the knight commanders, along with the Champion-Apparent and the professor, remain—these are the ones tasked with staying behind.

Lord Steward Geraint lowers himself into the chair at the foot of the stairs leading to the throne, a position of power, albeit temporary, until the heir is found. He offers a calm, knowing smile to those gathered before him, motioning for them to approach so they may hear his words. Though they maintain their positions of rank and file to his left and right, as is protocol, all eyes turn to him.

“Knight commanders, Champion-Apparent, and of course, our Eminent Archmage,” Geraint says, bowing his head slightly to Astlo as a sign of respect. He continues, his voice steady. “The plan is as follows: I will be sending some of you, along with the Champion-Apparent and the dear Professor, to the north to Greypeak Watch. Sir Idris has received word from his Sentinels that a strong rumor is circulating — someone of renown may know the whereabouts of the heir. For this task, I shall be sending Dame Leilani, Sir Kalowick, and Sir Vincent, to investigate. If any of you have questions or concerns, now is the time to speak before you head out.”

His smile fades slightly, replaced by a neutral expression, as he waves his hand over the gathering, signaling they now have time to voice their thoughts.

Eveline stepped forward, her presence calm and serene, yet commanding. The room grew quieter as she spoke, her voice soft but filled with the weight of her faith. "If the heir is to be found, I trust that we will not only seek them but also protect them — and ensure they are kept from harm. The gods guide our steps, and we must act with justice in our hearts." Her gaze swept over the assembled commanders, each one feeling the sincerity of her words. She paused, allowing the gravity of her message to settle in. It was not just the heir’s location that mattered; it was their safety and well-being. Eveline’s conviction was clear: the task was not merely to find the heir, but to safeguard them, for the future of the kingdom and the realm’s moral integrity depended on it.

Seraphine’s stance was unwavering, as if her very presence commanded the room. Her eyes, sharp and resolute, never left the others as she spoke, her voice low but full of unwavering resolve. "I understand the importance of this mission, but I must express my concern." She took a measured step forward, her voice gaining strength. "If we are to venture into Greypeak Watch, we must be prepared for any threat that may come. Our vigilance must remain unbroken. This task is too crucial to fail." Her gaze flickered briefly to the others, ensuring that each knight understood the weight of their mission. It was clear from her tone: for Seraphine, this was not just an investigation, but a sacred duty to protect the kingdom at any cost.

Idris stood in his typical quiet manner, hooded and watching, as always, with keen perception. He didn’t rush to speak, letting the words settle in the room before offering his thoughts. His voice was low, measured, yet firm. "The Sentinels have gathered intelligence, but we must be cautious of rumors as well." He paused, his eyes narrowing ever so slightly as he regarded the room. "They are often misleading, and those who possess such knowledge may not be as trustworthy as they seem. We should proceed with patience and observation before we act." His words were not ones of hesitation but of prudence—Idris was always the one to weigh every step carefully, and this mission was no different. He would ensure they approached the situation with the subtlety and strategy that had become his trademark.

Althea stepped forward with the grace and calm of someone at peace with the world, her eyes warm but determined. Her voice, when she spoke, was like a soft breeze, yet carried the weight of compassion and understanding. "I agree with Idris’s caution, and I share his concerns." She smiled gently, though the gravity of the task ahead was not lost on her. "If we are to find the heir, we must not only act with swiftness but with care. The burden of this mission falls not only on our strength but on our hearts. We must protect the heir, not just find them." Her words were full of empathy, but there was no doubt in her tone—Althea was prepared to face whatever challenges awaited, with a clear and calm mind.

Lysandra listens intently, her expression unreadable but her posture perfectly disciplined. She is always quick to act when duty calls but doesn’t speak immediately, allowing others to voice their concerns first. She might speak up once the others have had their say, simply stating, "I trust that the chosen knights will act with the discipline required. There is no room for error in this task." She adds her usual calm reassurance, knowing full well the weight of the mission.

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@Everyone - Where would you like to start this RP, once we get the final CS? At the point the Lord Steward is asking the company to go to a location or fast forward to said location?

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@Bartimaeus I assume she's still alive, right?

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@LucidRain Would she volunteer or do you think the Lord Steward would request her to go?

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@LucidRain - 100% accepted. The only thing I'd like you to do, is help me come up with a reason why she goes on this journey with the party. Or let me know if you'd rather her stay back in Olenta. I'd rather the party, but I'm willing to work with you on this character~

@Bartimaeus I love Caiman. Accepted! Also for Knight Commander Lerkley Polk - do you want to flesh out that NPC or would you like me to? ^^

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@BurningCold Sure thing, I can do that~

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@LucidRain You request is done~ Added lore for the northern and eastern kingdoms. Let me know if you want more options. There could be another west, across the sea.

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@Archazen Absolutely!