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Post by Neo on Apr 15, 2016 17:13:30 GMT -6
A slender young girl with dark blue hair and bright green eyes answered the door. Her hair was mussed as if she had been sleeping, and it fell freely around her face in an adorable mess. Her feet were bare, and she wore a simple white dress, with one strap hanging loosely down her arm, leaving her left shoulder bare. She was a couple years younger than him, and Lucius had always thought of her as a younger sister.
Erin's eyes lit up like a star upon seeing him, and she gave a wide smile- however Lucius immediately recognized she was still sick.
"Lord Lucius! This is a surprise! My grandfather is out right now, but he should be back soon..."
Lucius smiles. "That's alright, I'm here to check on you. May I come in?"
Erin visibly blushes, but nods. "O-of course. Come on in. Um... I can make us some tea..."
He shakes his head kindly. "Thank you for the offer, but I won't impose on you. Sit down and let me check your fever, Erin."
She nods again and steps aside to let him pass, then shuts and locks the door behind him. She sits down on the old couch, and Lucius gently places his hand against her forehead. Just as he worried, warm.
"Hmm... You still have a fever. Though, it seems to have lessened quite a bit. How have you been feeling?"
She bites her lip. "Better...? I mean, I can sleep easier now, and I've been able to hold down some solid foods too..."
Lucius sighs. "Well, I guess that IS an improvement... Any new symptoms?"
She shakes her head. "No, just the usual. Grandpa went out to get more more medicine for me, but..."
She looks towards the door and a flash of worry crosses her face. "You said he would be back soon, didn't you?" Lucius asks. "Is something wrong?"
She bites her lip again- a tell that she was nervous about something. "Well, he mentioned going to the Church again and trying to get the Priest to heal me, but I thought I was able to convince him it was too dangerous..."
Lucius resisted the urge to curse. The last time Ogrim tried to convince that heartless bastard to help, the Priest threatened to call the Knights and have him thrown out on his face- something they'd be more than happy to do.
"But it's also possible he may just be at the market, and there are more people there than usual," Erin says hopefully.
Possible... But I doubt it. I need to handle this carefully... I can't afford to get into a scrap with the Knights now, and my little act from earlier won't work on any higher ups... Or more arrogant asses. And if he is in trouble, I can't just leave him...
A: Go check the Lowtown Church and see if Old Man Ogrim is there.
B: Check the market area first just in case, then swing around and check the Church.
C: Stay with Erin. You don't know for a fact anything is wrong, and you aren't eager to leave Erin by herself. If Ogrim did get in trouble with the Knights, it's not unlikely that the bastards would "search his home for evidence" like the thugs they are. And knowing Erin, she would try to stop them, which wouldn't end well.
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Post by grayjack on Apr 15, 2016 17:19:18 GMT -6
C, that description really has me worried about what could happen if we leave.
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Post by The Big Cheese on Apr 15, 2016 18:53:49 GMT -6
I'll vote A.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 15, 2016 19:47:02 GMT -6
I also vote A
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Post by GX1997 on Apr 15, 2016 22:22:31 GMT -6
Let's trust gramps a little and watch out for the sick girl. C.
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Post by Neo on Apr 15, 2016 22:36:49 GMT -6
If no one gives me a tiebreaker by the time the STARS campaign is over, I'll let the RNG decide.
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Post by Neo on Apr 16, 2016 0:39:22 GMT -6
RNG says A. So A wins. I'll update tomorrow.
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Post by grayjack on Apr 16, 2016 11:07:48 GMT -6
Damon, hope nothing bad happens to Erin while we're out. Fingers crossed.
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Post by Neo on Apr 16, 2016 11:31:59 GMT -6
Damon, hope nothing bad happens to Erin while we're out. Fingers crossed. Don't worry, there aren't any automatic death flags or anything like that in this CYOA. I'm still pissed off about a certain forced death in Birthright. You'll get plenty of hints and warnings when a dangerous choice is coming up, and you'll have multiple choices before it that can alter the outcome. |
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Post by grayjack on Apr 16, 2016 12:19:51 GMT -6
Damon, hope nothing bad happens to Erin while we're out. Fingers crossed. Don't worry, there aren't any automatic death flags or anything like that in this CYOA. I'm still pissed off about a certain forced death in Birthright. You'll get plenty of hints and warnings when a dangerous choice is coming up, and you'll have multiple choices before it that can alter the outcome. Cool. Also that was supposed to say damn but stupid autocorrect. |
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Post by Neo on Apr 16, 2016 15:25:27 GMT -6
"Stay here, Erin. I'll be right back."
She nods, and bites her lip nervously again. "Just... Be careful, alright?" She looks down at her feet. "I couldn't live with myself if something happened to you because of me..."
Lucius smiles and places a gentle hand on her shoulder. "Don't worry, I'll be fine. Make sure to lock the door and don't open it for anyone other than your grandpa or I."
Erin promised to do so, and Lucius walked back out into the city. The only Church in the Lower Quarter was easy to find, even if you've never been there before; it was, naturally, the tallest and grandest building in the town, and stood high above the rest of the rundown houses and shops. You could see the Church's bell tower from any point in Lowtown.
Taking a deep breath to compose himself, Lucius strode towards the Church with a purpose, walking at a brisk pace that was something between power walking and nearly jogging. With the pace he set, and his knowledge of the streets and shortcuts, he reached the Church within only a few minutes- and was immediately greeted by a large scene. Commotions weren't that unusual, but large ones definitely weren't common...
A large crowd had gathered around the Church's front steps, blocking the view of what was going on. But as Lucius approached, he clearly heard the sounds of shouting- and instantly recognized the man's voice.
Oh crap. This isn't good.
"Are we all just going to stand by and watch while this happens to our loved ones?! To us?!" Came Ogrim's voice. "Are you all just going to stand there and let this tyranny continue?!"
Crap, crap, crap... If the Knights aren't already here, they'll be here soon-
"QUIET, you!" Another male's voice, this one Lucius didn't recognize. It was followed by a cry of pain from Ogrim.
Urgency renewed, Lucius shoves through the crowd, quickly breaking through past the throng of people. The sight that greeted him instantly made his blood turn cold, and his fury snap. Ogrim lay huddled on the ground, clutching his arm, with three Holy Knights behind them. Two of them were the guards from before, but the third was slightly older, maybe a year or so older than Lucius. His long, slick blond hair was pulled back into a stylish ponytail, and he wore the white and royal blue uniform of the upperclassmen at the Academy, instead of the normal white and gray. His dark amber eyes were dancing with hatred.
"YOU! How dare you disrespect a Priest and raise your voice against us! You worthless mongrels need to learn your-"
"ENOUGH!" Lucius commands, stepping forward and putting himself in between Ogrim and the bastard knights. "What is the meaning of this?! Skirmishes within the city's walls, outside of the Academy's grounds, are strictly forbidden! Speak Knight, or I'll haul you back to the Commandant by your hair!"
Ogrim snuck a relieved glance at Lucius, while the blond haired Knight sputtered in outrage. "Y-You!!! H-How dare you speak to me in such a manner, you worthless dog! I'll have your head-"
Apparently, idiocy could cloud one's vision as well as one's mind. The two guards from before, who clearly recognized Lucius, both looked as pale as ghosts. The one whom Lucius had spoken to before hesitantly stepped forward. "L-Lord Malik, this is no ordinary street rat sir, it's-"
Wait... Malik? As in the pompous, arrogant, and extremely stupid son of Marion Grace? Heir to House Gracewind? Oh joy.
"I don't care who he is, worm! No one speaks to me like that and walks away!" He turns back to Lucius, practically frothing at the mouth with rage, and draws his sword. "You should have minded your own business, peasant!!" He actually spat that last word. It was kinda disgusting.
A: Draw your sword and defend yourself. He drew first, and against a higher ranking noble no less, so you're well within your legal rights to defend yourself and teach this fool a lesson.
B: Simply evade his attacks and try to lead him away from the crowd. The other Knights clearly aren't any threat to Ogrim or the others, and you only need to keep him busy until the Senior Knights arrive to quell the dispute.
C: Introduce yourself and attempt to stall for time. If he still attacks you even after knowing for a fact that you're a higher ranking noble than he, well, he'll deserve what's coming to him.
Note: If you do decide to fight him, don't worry about him being too strong. He's the official "tutorial" fight later in the chapter anyway, and he'll have the same stats here. You just get more EXP and some extra dialogue later for fighting him here.
*Codex Entries unlocked: Malik Grace, A Gentleman's Duel*
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Post by grayjack on Apr 16, 2016 15:40:08 GMT -6
I'd like to go with B, on the grounds that we're better than him. But I do want to put him in his place so I'm going with A as long as he doesn't die.
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Post by Neo on Apr 16, 2016 15:57:33 GMT -6
I'd like to go with B, on the grounds that we're better than him. But I do want to put him in his place so I'm going with A as long as he doesn't die. Nah, he doesn't die. But you're going to wish he will before long.I'm going to post this in the Discussion topic soon anyway, but since it's kinda relevant to the current vote, I'll post it here first. A Gentleman's Duel: Violence of any kind is strictly forbidden in the Holy Capital, by order of the Queen. The only exception is the Academy's grounds, which are used for training purposes, and duels. A Gentleman's Duel is a nonlethal fight between two nobles with disarming your opponent as the goal. A Gentleman's Duel can occur when one noble challenges another, and is often used to settle disputes of honor. However, if another noble initiates a duel improperly, or without the defender's consent, the defender is legally allowed to defend himself. Moreover, if a noble aggressively initiates a duel with a higher ranking noble, the aggressor's family, by law, is forced to pay compensation to the defender's family. There is no greater shame among the noble circle than forcing a duel against a higher ranking noble and losing. And depending on the circumstances, the offending House could be forced to pay thousands of gold in compensation, or even hand over a portion of their territory. Whatever your choice here, you will still end up with 10,000 gold to start your journey with, but if you choose correctly, there are also some other perks you can win here. |
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Post by Neo on Apr 16, 2016 22:20:52 GMT -6
Bump for votes. Pls?
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Post by GX1997 on Apr 17, 2016 11:39:20 GMT -6
A
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Post by Neo on Apr 17, 2016 12:00:25 GMT -6
Well, I gave it ages, but I wanna write. So RNG says A.
Malik Grace Lv 3 Noble
HP:18
Str:6
Mag:5
Skill:7
Spd:7
Luck:0
Def:5
Res:3
ATK 12 Hit 104 Crit 5 Avoid 10
Skills: Rivalry(When attacking another male noble or royal, both this unit and the defending unit gain +5 Rating)
Weapon Level: Sword D
Items: Rapier(40/40 Mt 5 Hit 85 Crit 5 Rng 1 Des- effective VS Knights and Armor)
Rating: 34
Lucius Lv 5 Bard
HP:20
Str:6
Mag:8
Skill:7
Spd:7
Luck:5
Def:7
Res:9
ATK 14 Hit 109 Crit 10 Avoid 20
Personal Skill: Voice of Taliesin
Skills: Song of Victory
Weapon Level: Sword D Tome D
Items: Noble Rapier*(60/60 Mt 7 Hit 90 Crit 10 Rng 1 Des- effective VS Knights and Armor), Elwind(35/35), Vulnerary(3/3)
Rating: 40
* I edited the stats of the Noble Rapier slightly.
Note: It's pretty much impossible to lose this fight. Lucius will one round Malik. Also note that I will only display status updates here in the main topic for duels and important boss fights(Normal boss fights I will only post the Boss's stats), or if there is an "Unknown Enemy" on the field. Unknown Enemies are unusually strong enemies that may appear on certain maps. They are much more powerful than the rest of the enemies, but defeating them will earn you rewards like stat boosters or special items. I'll post more on those in the Discussion topic later.
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Post by Neo on Apr 17, 2016 21:58:16 GMT -6
Well, if you insist... I'll happily embarrass you.Lucius draws his sword, gives a slight formal bow as tradition dictated- for appearances only- and shifts his feet into the stance of an expert fencer. If Mr Pompous Oaf hadn't been blind with rage, that stance might have given him a clue to who he was really dealing with. Then again, the idiot hadn't seemed to notice Lucius's attire either. Or his fancy sword. Or anything really. It was kinda impressive, being that dumb. Instead of backing down like anyone with an ounce of common sense would have done, Malik charged straight at him, completely disregarding any semblance of formal swordplay or training, and thrust his blade straight towards the center of Lucius's chest. Shifting his weight onto his right leg, Lucius steps back and bends his knees slightly, bringing his own Rapier up in front of him to parry the blow. The harsh sound of clanging steel rings through the air as their blades meet. Nothing happened for a moment, then a slit in Lucius's sleeve opened up and a thin line of blood trickled down his arm. Lucius's eyes narrowed dangerously. I... Miscalculated? No. This oaf is better than I gave him credit for. Perhaps if he weren't a total idiot, he might make a worthy opponent.Malik's eyes widened slightly as he finally noticed the crest on Lucius's coat. "You... You're..." Without a word, Lucius knocked Malik's blade out of his hand, sending it tumbling to the ground, and kicked him backwards. Owner followed sword, and Malik landed unceremoniously on his rear. In seconds, Lucius's blade was pointed at his throat. "Lucius Morningstar, head of the Great House Morningstar, and your better- in every way, it seems. You challenged me to a duel, unprovoked and against my wishes, and I have bested you. I trust you are well aware of the consequences of your actions, yes?" Malik's face turned beet red. "Y-You! You're nothing more than a disgraced, two-bit-" "What in the Goddess's name is going on here?!" BGM:Enter the Royal GuardsKeeping his sword pointed at the idiot on the ground, Lucius turns at the familiar female voice, the surprise etched on his face as clear as day. The crowd of people parted like spring for winter for the three knights who strode into the fray. Two were men bearing the signature silver and gold armor of Elmine's most esteemed Holy Knights, their faces covered by full plate helms with rich purple plumes, and the third was someone Lucius knew quite well, since she rarely left the Queen's side. Claire Reinhardt, Captain of the Royal Guard, and the most famous Holy Knight in the entire country. In strength, she was second only to the Commandant himself. Her legendary rise from a minor nobleman's daughter to the Queen's most trusted confidant, and the youngest Knight Captain in recent history was, well... Legendary. She was only a couple years older than himself actually, but looking at her, one wouldn't think it. Claire possessed a regal bearing and commanding presence that put most high ranking nobles to shame. And the mere sight of the deadly twin blades at her waist would make even the most hardened Brigand cower in fear at the prospect of facing her in battle. Claire's shoulder length icy blue hair and icy blue eyes, as well as her personality, earned her the nickname "the Icy Maiden", which she is quite fond of. She wore an ornate silver coat bearing the insignia of the Royal Family on the back, with gold shoulder pads shaped in the form of Lion heads, over a black metal chestpiece that Lucius knew for a fact was much lighter than it looked, dark brown pants interlaced with silver chainmail links that always announced her presence when she walked, like some dreaded harbinger, and dark brown boots designed for both protection and comfort. She was the polar opposite of the bumbling idiot on the ground, and definitely not someone Lucius wanted to tangle with. Been through that nightmare, ended up with a faceful of dirt in three seconds flat, no desire to repeat that experience. Lucius promptly sheathed his sword and opened his mouth to speak, but before he could utter even a single word, voices from all over the crowd started to answer. All at once, Claire was hit with a barrage of accounts of what happened, and every last one of them was completely honest. Lucius simply stood there, stunned, as he realized Old Man Ogrim's words hadn't fallen on deaf ears after all. Claire adeptly handled the crowd, taking notes and calming everyone down, then walked up to Lucius and gave him an odd look that seemed like a cross between amusement and respect. "I should have known you would be mixed up in this somehow." Unable to resist being suicidal, Lucius smiles coyly. "You make me sound so predictable, milady. Or is it you just know me so well?" Claire merely rolls her eyes. "Save your charms for the tavern wenches, Bard." Her eyes suddenly darken, and she closes the distance so quickly Lucius barely sees her move. She grasps his arm- surprisingly gently- and inspects the cut. "You've been injured." "It's just a scratch," Lucius assures her, unsure what to think of the sudden change in her behavior. "Sit down," she commands, pointing to the Church steps. Deciding it's probably wise to obey, Lucius sits down and holds out his arm while Claire applies a vulnerary to the wound and bandages it. The other two Royal Guards disperse the crowd, then take the accounts of Ogrim, Father Jorim- the old Priest of this Church- and the three young Holy Knight students, including Malik. Claire on the other hand seems completely fixated on making sure his arm is treated, something Lucius found more than a little odd. Nice- refreshing even- but odd. "So, what brought you out into the city?" Lucius asks, making an attempt at small talk. Claire gives him yet another odd look, then bites off the loose end of the bandage with her teeth. "I was on an errand for her highness when I saw the commotion." "In... Lowtown?" Lucius asks, confused. What kind of errand would Dianna..."Her highness wanted to brew a special tea for your visit today, and the only store with the herbs in stock is here." ... Oh. That sounds like her.Claire finished bandaging his arm and rose to her feet, then offered him her hand- another surprise. Lucius allowed her to help him up, and Claire then turned to Malik, who was currently whining like a little baby and telling the other guards to arrest Lucius for attacking him. The guards were having none of it, much to Malik's displeasure. Lucius couldn't resist the urge to grin.
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Post by Neo on Apr 18, 2016 15:09:35 GMT -6
"That good-for-nothing disgraced mongrel was the one who attacked ME! H-how dare you call me a liar! Do you know who I am?!"
"Malik Grace, heir of the Great House Gracewind," Claire says coldly, stepping forward. "You are hereby charged with disturbing the peace, physically assaulting a citizen of Grandia, and forcing an illegal duel, which you lost. Your report of what happened goes against the word of nearly two dozen other people, including your fellow students and Father Jorim. Do you still wish to stick by the report you've given? These charges, compounded by knowingly falsifying a report to the authorities, will most likely mean expulsion from the Academy at the very least."
Malik's eyes widen as he whirls around and starts towards the younger knights cowering behind him. Before he can reach them, he's restrained by the two Royal Guards, who easily overpower him. "Y-YOU! This is all your fault! If you two would have just stuck to the story, then-"
"That would have made no difference," Claire interrupts. "They were wise to speak the truth. Now, you will come along with me while I inform your mother of what transpired here."
She turns around as if to walk away, sees Lucius, her expression darkens again and she turns back around. "And, for the record, that 'good-for-nothing disgraced mongrel' holds the same rank as your mother in the nobility, and is a dear friend of my mistress, the Queen. If I ever hear you speak ill of him again in my presence, I will cut you down where you stand. Am I understood?"
All his bluster and bravado abruptly vanish, and Malik turns pale as a ghost. He nods meekly, and Claire turns back to Lucius, sighing. "Don't worry, he won't bother you again, you have my word. I will set up a meeting between you and Duchess Marion to negotiate for appropriate compensation for her son's actions. I will have a time for you by lunch."
I'm not particularly keen on making that snake my enemy, but this opportunity is too good to pass up.
Lucius smiles. "Thank you, Claire. I know I can always count on you."
She smiles back- a crack in the Icy Maiden's facade, perhaps?- and nods. "Of course. You know you can always come to me, Lucius. Now, if you'll excuse me..."
Lucius watches her and the other guards leave, dragging Malik along with them, then walks over to Ogrim. The guards had patched him up, and now he was speaking privately to Father Jorim. When they saw Lucius approach, Father Jorim gave a polite bow- will wonders never cease?- and walked back into the Church.
"Great news, friend!" Ogrim shouts exuberantly. "All this hubaloo has convinced Father Jorim to have a look at Erin after all! He's going to get his staff, then I'm to guide him back to the house! I can't thank you enough, my boy!"
"You did most of the work old man," Lucius says, smiling, as Ogrim gives him a hearty slap on the back. "I only gave you a bit of help. I'll go tell Erin the good news and stay with her until you get there."
"That'd be wonderful lad, but could I also beg you to stay awhile and share your knowledge with Father Jorim? You're the one who's been treating her after all, you know what's ailing her best. I know you're busy though, so I won't ask you to stay long."
Lucius inclines his head. "That's fine, I don't mind. I'll see you there."
-----
A few minutes later, Lucius knocked on the door to Erin's house and called out to let her know it was him. The door swung open immediately, and Erin nearly leapt into his arms. She caught herself just in time, blushed, and found sudden interest in her feet. Still, the relief on her face was plain.
Lucius felt a twinge of disappointment, but brushed it aside. "So... How did it go?" She asks softly, as she steps aside and allows Lucius to enter.
"Well, I found your grandpa, and he's on his way back with Father Jorim, who's going to take a look at you."
Erin's eyes widened slightly. "Really?!"
He nods. "Yes, really. And don't worry, I'll stay with you so you don't feel uncomfortable. And besides... There's something I need to speak with you and your grandfather about afterwards."
Malik Grace and his serpent of a mother aren't exactly known for their forgiveness... That arrogant fool likely blames Ogrim for his humiliation today, at least partially, and if so, who knows what he'll do... Neither Ogrim or Erin are safe living here anymore.
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Post by Neo on Apr 19, 2016 16:18:51 GMT -6
Lucius allowed himself a sigh of relief when Father Jorim confirmed that Erin merely had the flu. A case of it was going around the capital as of late, and since the symptoms greatly resembled the beginning stages of the Plague, the workload of the Church had quadrupled, with terrified citizens and families all across the city pleading for help from the Church.
"So far, we've only had one case that was actually the Plague, and we were able to swiftly quarantine and treat the patient in time," Father Jorim explained. "We've barely had time to rest. But that's no excuse for me to treat you so rudely, Mr Corsair, and no excuse for me to ignore your plight. I am deeply ashamed of my behavior, and I do hope you can forgive me."
He rises to his feet and retrieves a paper and quill from his satchel, quickly writes a note and hands it to Erin. "As for you little Miss, you'll be just fine in a couple days. Take that prescription to the Apothecary, and mix the herbs he gives you into a cup of hot tea thrice per day. Don't worry about paying, I'll make the arrangements myself as an apology to you both. I'm also prescribing hot stew and plenty of bed rest, young lady. Don't let me catch you wandering around town, now."
"Of course not! T-Thank you so much, Father!"
The good Priest smiles. "No need for thanks, my child. I am merely a servant of the Goddess."
Lucius finds himself staring at the Priest in a new light. Could I truly have misjudged him so badly? Was I blinded by the corruption around me so much that I mistook goodness for corruption, when there was none?
Father Jorim notices Lucius's look and his wrinkled mouth folds into a stern frown. "Be careful, young lord. Prejudice is a tricky slope, and all too often wisdom and justice are merely foolishness and revenge in disguise. If you judge the world around you to be as black as night, you will miss the beautiful Sunrise and the springtime rainbow."
Father Jorim left without another word, leaving his cryptic advice hanging in the air like a murky cloud. Lucius sat in stunned silence for several moments before Erin nervously cleared her throat. "So, um... You said you had something to talk to us about, right Lucius?"
Snapping out of his trance, Lucius nods. "Right. I do. Ogrim, you might already have guessed this, but it isn't safe for you two to live here anymore."
Erin's eyes widen in shock. "What?! Why?!"
Ogrim quickly filled her in on the events that transpired in front of the Church. "I've made us an enemy of the heir to a Great House, and for that, I am sorry my girl. But like it or not, the boy is right. Nothing's preventing that arrogant pup from waltzing on down here in a couple days, after most of the ruckus today has blown over."
"But why?!" Erin shouted, tears in her eyes. "He attacked you, attacked Lucius, and you're saying he's going to be free as a bird in only a day or two?!"
"Unfortunately, Ogrim is correct," Lucius agrees. "While attacking me will likely force his mother to pay a hefty sum, in the end, the consequences for Malik will be minimal. That's just the reality of his house being more prominent than mine. If it weren't for my connections to the Royal Family, I doubt even that much would happen."
"But this is our home! It's all I have left of my parents! They can't... They can't just..."
"I know Erin," Lucius says gently. "But houses can be rebuilt. Lives cannot."
"You have a plan then, my boy?" Ogrim interjects knowingly.
He nods. "I do. I'm going to make you both members of my house."
Ogrim blinked. "Come again, lad?"
Lucius smiles. "You heard me, old man. I'm offering you a job as the Blacksmith of House Morningstar. Both you and Erin will be servants of my house- in title only- and will have the full protection being a servant of a Great House provides. If Malik or any of his goons so much as scratch either of you, they'll be declaring war on another Great House, which is strictly forbidden. Both of you will live in the manor- Goddess knows there's plenty of room- and Ogrim, you'll be allowed to use the family forge out back, and sell your wares to the Noble Caste with the emblem of a Great House. You'll also have access to any materials you'll need. I'm sure Garth will find this arrangement to his liking as well, as your wares will no doubt bring in quite a bit of money, and we'll have another pair of hands to help out around the house. I believe this arrangement is beneficial to everyone. Well? What do you say?"
Ogrim grins, a wide, boisterous grin. "I say you got yourself a deal, lad." He turns to Erin. "Well, my girl? You have a say in this too. If you really can't bear to leave, we'll find a way to manage. I'll hire some bodyguards or somethin'."
She shakes her head and takes a deep breath, then turns to look at Lucius. There was such sincerity in her gaze that it made him smile. "No, it's alright. It pains me to leave... But I know this is for the best. So I too accept. And... Thank you Lucius. For everything."
"Don't mention it," he says, rising to his feet. "It's the least I can do. I have an appointment that I have to go soon, but I'll escort you to your new home first. Don't worry about packing everything now, I'll send Garth over to pick everything up a bit later. Just grab the essentials."
Erin nods and gives a hasty curtsy that was strangely adorable, then rushes up to her room to grab her things, leaving Ogrim and Lucius alone.
"You've grown into a fine young man, my boy," he says, clapping Lucius on the shoulder. "Your old man would be proud."
Lucius starts to speak, but his thoughts drift back towards the words Father Jorim left with.
Would he? Or am I just as blind and jaded as everyone else, without even realizing it? Father...
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Post by Neo on Apr 22, 2016 16:20:52 GMT -6
Half an hour later, Erin and Ogrim had just settled into their rooms, and Garth had already brought back most of their belongings from their old house. Lucius gave Erin a quick tour of the manor and the outside grounds, and promised he would give her a more in-depth tour later, which she seemed content with. Lucius then instructed Garth to show Ogrim to the family Forge, and to give Ogrim anything he needed, and then he left to shower and prepare for his meeting with Lady Dianna. He changed into his father's coat, a dark blue longcoat with gold embroidery- the coat worn by the head of the house to formal events- and packed all the essentials he would need for a trip into the Wilds, including a hand drawn map left by his father. He didn't imagine there was a possibility Dianna would refuse his request, and it was possible he might have to leave on short notice.
Once done, he checked himself over once more in the mirror for good measure, then nodded approvingly to himself.
For everything I said to Garth earlier, I'm still going out of my way to dress formally and look the part, despite this merely being a date between friends, aren't I? I guess Dianna just has that affect on people. Her radiance is so blinding, that you feel you have to prove yourself worthy just to bask in her presence...
Sighing, Lucius stored his hands in his pockets and walked down into the great hall, ignoring Garth's arched eyebrow. "I may be gone for a few days, Garth. See to it that Erin and Ogrim are comfortable while I'm gone. And Garth... Erin is not a maid. If I come back to find you've dressed her up as one and have her cleaning the floors with her bare hands, you and I are going to have words. You can have her help around the house, but don't boss her around and work her ragged, you hear me?"
Garth inclines his head seriously. "As you wish. Do be careful, milord. The Wilds are not a place man is meant to tread. Beyond the wall, we are the trespassers. You must remember this, or nature will take you, and you will not return."
Believe me, old man, I know that better than anyone.
"Don't worry, Garth. I am not my father."
--------
The palace was well within walking distance of the Morningstar estate, but Lucius decided to hail a carriage anyway to save a few minutes of time. He wasn't running late- if anything, he was running early- but it was better to be safe than sorry. A chance encounter with the Archduke could be... Problematic.
The tall gates and vast walls of the Silver Palace soon rolled into view, and no matter how many times Lucius saw it, it was still as grand and impressive as ever. More famously known as the Palace of Waterfalls, the home of Elmine's royal family was one of the marvels of Bastion. High, white walls surrounded a huge estate that completely dwarfed the estates of the four Great Houses. The outside walls were always covered in a thin layer of cascading water, which poured down into a waterway surrounding the estate. No one except the Queen and the Archduke knew the source of the endless water, but anyone could tell the source was magical in nature. The outside waterfalls also had a defensive purpose; they made scaling the walls by hand impossible, and made it so there was only one entrance into the estate. The tall silver towers of the royal castle could be seen even above the outer walls, making for a truly impressive sight.
The carriage stopped at the front gate and Lucius stepped out. He paid the driver then walked up to the Royal Guards on duty, who promptly granted him passage without a word. It seems Claire made sure they knew he would be coming. I'll have to thank her for that later.
The massive gates swung open, and Lucius walked into the Water Gardens- another sight that wasn't easy to forget. Small ponds and streams lay strewn about the area, intertwined with hanging plants and tall trees. White stone bridges and walkways crossed over the ponds, and there were various wooden benches and tables and places to sit and enjoy the gardens. The gardens eventually opened up into a different area, a courtyard of stone which served as a place for the Queen to address her subjects, and beyond that rose the great spires of Castle Elmine. Two more large manor houses stood adjacent to the castle, connected by walled walkways.
The guards at the Castle gate stepped aside to let Lucius pass, and directed him towards the Queen's personal garden, where she was waiting for him. He thanked the guards and made his way there, walking through the grand, winding halls of the palace at a brisk, but easy pace. Several of the Staff gave him odd looks as he passed, but no one stopped him... At least until he approached the Queen's chambers, which was the only way to access her private gardens. A young woman Lucius had never seen before stood guard in front of the Queen's chambers, but she wore the attire of a castle maid instead of a Royal Guard. And from the color of her clothes, not just any maid, but a personal servant of the Queen. Her light red, almost orange hair was pulled back into a loose ponytail that made her seem very girlish, though she didn't seem much younger than himself. Her dark brown eyes stared accusatory at the man who dared to approach the Queen's private chambers, and she went ramrod stiff.
"Halt! You approach the chambers of Queen Dianna the First, Mistress of these walls and Lady of this Keep. You are prohibited from going any further. If you do not turn away, I will be forced to call the guards."
Lucius arched a single eyebrow. "Dianna didn't tell her personal servant she was expecting me? How curious, considering the guards seemed to know of my visit. My name is Lucius Morningstar, and the Queen is expecting me. I was told she was waiting for me in her garden."
The girl gave a very haughty scoff and looked away. "Humph. I've never heard of you before. Regardless, the Queen is busy right now, so you can go away. Next time, use the proper channels and maybe, just maybe, you'll be granted an audience with her esteemed Majesty. Oh, who am I kidding. You aren't worthy to even exist in her presence."
Lucius merely blinked and stared at the girl. Right. Someone has a few screws loose.
"Perhaps you should call your mistress," Lucius says slowly, doing his best to remain patient. "I don't think she would be very happy to know you denied her best friend entrance. Like I said, I already arranged the meeting with her beforehand, and she's expecting me-"
The girl's cheeks turned beet red, as if flushed with anger, and she even had the audacity to reach out and poke him on the chest. Lucius merely stared at her, aghast. "Listen, mister, I don't know who you are or what you're playing at, but I'm Lady Dianna's best friend, and I know for a fact she would never be friends with an uncouth brute-"
"Asuka? Is something the matter?" A familiar voice called out from within.
The girl, who was apparently called Asuka, grew even more flustered. "N-No, of course not milady! I-I'm just talking to one of the guards, that's all-"
"Lying to your mistress's face, are we?" Lucius intercedes, his patience wearing thin. "That's not a very good career choice for a servant, Miss Asuka."
She whirled on him, her face even redder than before. "Quiet you-"
There was an audible giggle from behind the door. "You'll have to forgive her, Lu. She means well, I promise. Asuka, behave. We already talked about this. Let him in, will you?"
"But milady-"
"Asuka. You know I don't like repeating myself."
The girl groaned, but obeyed. Reluctantly. She opened the door and stepped aside, finally allowing Lucius to pass; but not before getting the last word in. "You even look at my mistress wrong, and I'll call the guards. Understand?"
"Perfectly," he replied, with only mild sarcasm.
She scoffed and slammed the door behind him.
"I really am sorry about that, Lu. I didn't expect you to arrive early, else I would have come to greet you myself instead."
He shakes his head and turns to look at her, and his words catch in his throat. "Don't worry about it, it's fine..."
The bathroom door was open, and Dianna stepped out, with only a towel covering her. Her long silver hair fell freely down her mostly bare back, her hair still glistening wet. She walked over to her wardrobe and started to drop the towel, and Lucius turned away to give her some privacy.
We aren't children who frolic around the gardens in our pajamas anymore, Dia...
She quickly changed, then guided Lucius out another door, into a covered patio looking out over a large private garden.
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