The Knights Series IC Episode one: The Cloak of Salen

[New Roman Empire]

John Brackmen
John's House near the square
3 days before the quest

John had just woken up a few hours ago. He had done the chores he needed to do for the day after he ate breakfast and then got changed and headed for training grounds. When John arrived, he quickly fetched his armor at the castle a half plate with chain mail. The armor couldnt stand alot of blows but it would hold for awhile. It was a fine day in Camelot, Aurthors heir was taking the throne in a month or so and the Kindgom was at peace. Aurthor had done a fine job as king, but now he was to old to run it. So now that duty fell to his heir now. The Prince soon to be King of Camelot, but news of the Cloak of Salen was found or being searched for. Rumor's changed with each person. But a rumor had been heard that Merlin had managed to convince Arthur to go search for it. But now wasnt the time to think of such things. When John returned he started to spare with a few of the soldiers until a few more knights would arrive at some point and they could spar with him then. But now he was going to spar the soldiers and guards.

[The United Soviet Socialist Republic]

James Beckett,
Beckett Estate

James Beckett was at his estate, sharping his weapons in case a war broke out. He was a terrific warrior and was well known to many other knights of Camelot. His wife came to him and said "James, I am sure you have heard the rumors?", James said "Of what?", his wife, Mary, said "Why of the Clock of Salen of course!". James laughed as he said "But a rumor. There is no chance of anything happening with it.", Mary said "Oh James. You never pay attention to rumors.", James said "Of course not. They are balony. Now lets enjoy a few rounds of ale, eh? I need a break from being a Knight." as he gave himself and Mary a wooden ale mug and filled it with ale. They went inside and enjoyed themselves for the rest of the afternoon.

[Thrice Crownlands]

The Rustling Reed, Purveyor of all things Fermented, Camelot Market

What most people didn't realize, was that being an unlanded house knight wasn't all that exciting.

Well, that wasen't perfectly fair. It could be very exciting, even for extended periods of time; whenever the Picts or the Welsh or some petty prince got sassy, or a particularly bad spat of banditry, one could be off for battle for months, in the company of men like yourself, conflict, glory, and, best of all, new places to be. When there weren't though... well, there were only so many places that needed protection, and half the time it was your job to find them.

Take this tavern, for instance; a popular place among the merchants and wanders travailing through the city. Even if the number of armed men was rather low, it was probably the place that needed a knight the most. Why, just this afternoon, he'd already had to carry some poor fool who'd drunk himself to the floor back to his house, break up a two bar fights, and sooth a pair of harlots who were on the verge of a catfight over some merchant scion's patronage. And, the whole time, surrounded by ale he couldn't let himself drink.

There just wasn't any challenge in it; the worst he'd take was a clay mug to the chest, and that'd shattered like nothing. Still, so long as the civil was kept, civil, he wasn't about to complain. Right now, even as he stood, hand at his sabre, all the bartender had to worry about was one old man, deep into his cups, spouting off some drunken nonsense.

"It come all the way from the plains, they say; dripped in the blood of the barbarians by the horns of Satan himself." The man's words came off his tounge sloppy, slurred... as drunken words often did. "Filled with so much death it can suck the life right out of a place, leaving a field of dust in its place. Or was that that other thing..." he was mumbled to himself, the keeper having long since turned to cooking the food for the night crowd...

Now, the night crowd. THAT was where the excitement was at.

[Arthurista]

Inn, on the way to Camelot

"The usual, Sir Hadrian?" The innkeeping lady asked.

"The usual, please, Alyssa." Hadrin Aurelianus replied. He'd just tied his horse to the stable and came in to have a meal.

"On the way to Camelot then?"

"Aye. Arthur's retiring, as you know. Good for him. We all know his son's competent enough."

He'd just taken a brief vacation to see the family villa outside the spa town of Aquae Sullis. He doesn't manage the family land and business, naturally. His younger brother did. Being a military officer, he was far more busy with other things.

He came from the third generation of a military family. His grandfather fought the Attila's Huns as part of the great Roman army, serving as a Tribune under the Aetius, the last good general the Empire ever had before it crumbled. His father at with Mount Badon where Arthur routed the Saxons, a great Equites, a knight, like he was. Entering into the realm's service ran in his family, to say the least.

Soldiering, naturally, relied much more on brains than brawn, and his education consisted of as much the reading of Xenophon, Caesar and Vegetius as it was of riding or swordsmanship. When he was 21, he left to travel Europe, soaking up the learning of Italy and Greece before returning to pledge his services to Arthur. He's done well - three campaigns against the Saxons has left him a seasoned veteran before he was quite 28, knight and scholar, officer and gentleman.

"I take it that Merlin has summoned you to Camelot? Some quest for some object of great power to smooth the transition?" The innkeeper asked again.

"You might say that, Alyssa, though I can't tell you the details." The inn's wine was superb. Rhone valley, he suspected. "All I know is, the old druid has a job for us. As usual, we hasten to obey. Oath and everything, you see."

He sounded nonchalant, but there was something about this quest that unnerved him, starting with the fact that he honestly didn't know much more than the innkeeper herself. Missions, he kept thinking for himself, need careful planning for success. He hated nothing more than merely taking blind stabs into the dark.

[Fowlick]

Wizard's study
Camelot
"Well Master Merlin says this cloak has the power to destroy the kingdom, but the fools in the square think it wise for a weapon. It will be destroyed, and I shall witness it's destruction. I wonder who I shall accompany on the grand adventure."He said rubbing his chin. He then turned to his desk and closed a book on artifacts that was open to a page with a drawing of a cloak."The power is tempting."

[Treko]

Astor Cross
Cross Estate
Camelot

The room smelled of leather; it soothed the senses and made someone feel right at home. Astor walked up to the armor mannequin and pulled off the hauberk and slid it on before grabbing his leather breastplate; which had medium sized pieces of iron stitched into the brown leather. As he tightened up his leather breastplate he slid on both of his leather spaulders and gauntlets, the armor was tightened and ready for combat. After a quick prayer, Astor left the armory and headed for the front doors of the estate, "Lord Cross, here is you helmet and spatha." said Eryck who held out the equipment, "Thank you, Eryck." replied Astor as he slid the iron helmet onto his head and strapped his spatha onto his hip.

Outside smelled of dirt and iron, a common commodity within the walls of Camelot. As Astor took in all the smells of Camelot a servant brought him his horse, "Lord, your horse?" asked the servant who offered the reigns, "No, thank you. I think I'll walk today." replied Astor as he took his first steps toward the castle. Rumors of the cloak of Salen filled Astor's ears, an old tale of some magical cape but Astor hardly ever paid attention to rumors.

With his hand on the hilt of his spatha, Astor walked up the stairs towards the entrance of the castle, "Good morning, Lord Cross." said a guard who saluted before letting Astor into the castle. As he entered the cstle he could hear the faint clanging of swords in the training grounds, "Ah, Sir Brackmen must be sparring with the new recruits." Astor said aloud as he made his way towards the training grounds.

"Sir Brackmen, training with the same people daily won't help that much. I suggest you train with a hard opponent." Astor said aloud to James as he leaned against the wall of the training grounds before waiting for Jame's response.

[New Roman Empire]

John Brackmen,
Camelot

"Ah Sir Cross, this is to help them not me. My skills are already great, if I improved much more our enemies would run at the sight of me." Chuckled John as he finished off the last recruit. Then he helped them up and said, "dont make yourselves tired in the middle of the battle or you will surely be killed. Now if you will excuse me." Said John as he walked over to Sir Cross. The day was nice and he had only been here for half a hour. John then extended his hand towards Sir Cross.

"I see you walked here today, have you heard of the rumors? That cloak could end the peace that Camelot. I hear there might be a quest soon. So how was your ride up here, pleasent I hope." Said John.

[Treko]

John Brackmen,
Camelot

"Ah Sir Cross, this is to help them not me. My skills are already great, if I improved much more our enemies would run at the sight of me." Chuckled John as he finished off the last recruit. Then he helped them up and said, "dont make yourselves tired in the middle of the battle or you will surely be killed. Now if you will excuse me." Said John as he walked over to Sir Cross. The day was nice and he had only been here for half a hour. John then extended his hand towards Sir Cross.

"I see you walked here today, have you heard of the rumors? That cloak could end the peace that Camelot. I hear there might be a quest soon. So how was your ride up here, pleasent I hope." Said John.

Astor Cross
Camelot

Astor looked at the hand and have a slight chuckle before shaking it and giving a bear hug to John, "Aye, I've heard the rumors. A dangerous cloak if it should land in the wrong hands." replied Astor as he gave a sigh before looking at John. "The walk was pleasant but the town is filled with the rumors of the cloak." said Astor as he shook his head and crossed them "I agree with you, a quest may be in the making." said Astor as he shook his head once more before watching to guards start to spar.

"But...a quest would be fun. Haven't had much to do around here." Astor said with a chuckle as he looked up into the blue sky then down at the ground. "I just hope something happens soon." said Asudi as he pressed his back into the wall; he wished the wall would comfort his boredom.

[Terrah]

Dariana Darenvol.
The Darenvol Townhouse
Camelot

Dariana was up at dawn as always, she watched the sun rise before getting some breakfast which was what it was usually half stale bread and some leftover broth from the night before when she'd finished eating drank a mouthful of ale, mainly because she didn't trust the towns water supply, as you'd get idiots pissing in it all the time.

Daria then put on chainmail and strapped her sword to her waist and her shield to her arm before heading out into Camelot, jogging to the training yards, trying to keep herself used to the weight of the armour, as she generally didn't get sent to any important missions or quest as she was woman and how could a woman compare to a man? ha! it made her laugh it was most liklely because she'd beaten half of them before she was sixteen and now they could take their petty revenge for being humiliated. It wasn't as if she didn't fight a or anything, she was often in the vanguard during times of war and if there was bandits plauging the country side she was the first to rally knights against them, as well as she being the first to slake her blades thirst for blood.

it wasn't long before she was as the training grounds at first warmed up striking the training dummies as wellas firing a round of arrows at the archery range before looking for some one to spare with. If she was going to prove that women were just as good if not better then men she would have to kick their asses first.

[New Roman Empire]

John Brackmen,
Camelot

"Ah Sir Cross, this is to help them not me. My skills are already great, if I improved much more our enemies would run at the sight of me." Chuckled John as he finished off the last recruit. Then he helped them up and said, "dont make yourselves tired in the middle of the battle or you will surely be killed. Now if you will excuse me." Said John as he walked over to Sir Cross. The day was nice and he had only been here for half a hour. John then extended his hand towards Sir Cross.

"I see you walked here today, have you heard of the rumors? That cloak could end the peace that Camelot. I hear there might be a quest soon. So how was your ride up here, pleasent I hope." Said John.

Astor Cross
Camelot

Astor looked at the hand and have a slight chuckle before shaking it and giving a bear hug to John, "Aye, I've heard the rumors. A dangerous cloak if it should land in the wrong hands." replied Astor as he gave a sigh before looking at John. "The walk was pleasant but the town is filled with the rumors of the cloak." said Astor as he shook his head and crossed them "I agree with you, a quest may be in the making." said Astor as he shook his head once more before watching to guards start to spar.

"But...a quest would be fun. Haven't had much to do around here." Astor said with a chuckle as he looked up into the blue sky then down at the ground. "I just hope something happens soon." said Asudi as he pressed his back into the wall; he wished the wall would comfort his boredom.

"Yeah, I hear that if they make a quest that it will be in a few days. Three at the latest, but most of the knights are bored, we just train and wait for somthing bad to happen." Chuckled John as he put his back against the wall. "See that girl, she is a new knight. That one should be in a kitchen, but I will admit she is attractive." Said John as he watched the guards spar.

[Arthurista]

Hadrian Aurelianus, streets of Camelot

Sir Hadrian was just riding into Camelot when he went past the archery range and spotted Dariana practicing. He knew her, though more from reputation than anything else. What he heard was generally very, very positive, as far as fighting ability was concerned. As an unreconstructed Pagan, the fact that she angered some of the more traditional Christians by her mere presence was a bonus as well.

"Hunting a lot these days, Dame Dariana?" He said as he dismounted, drawing her Hunnic horse bow at the same time, the same one that his grandfather seized in battle as a Roman officer. "Shall we wager? Five shots, the winner gets ... 10 shillings?"

He drew his bow, loosed and hit his target dead centre. He was more used to shooting on horseback, but decent enough on foot as well.

[Treko]

"Yeah, I hear that if they make a quest that it will be in a few days. Three at the latest, but most of the knights are bored, we just train and wait for somthing bad to happen." Chuckled John as he put his back against the wall. "See that girl, she is a new knight. That one should be in a kitchen, but I will admit she is attractive." Said John as he watched the guards spar.

Astor Cross
Camelot

Astor looked at John and shook his head in disapproval, "Somethings aren't meant to be said John. She may be a woman but that doesn't define what she can and can't do." replied Astor as he took himself off the wall and walked over to a sparring circle. He unsheathed his sword and called a guard over to spar him, Astor calculated his attack then sprung like a snake. With his force behind the swing, Astor hit the guards sword with a loud clang before punching him in the face. The one thing knights in Camelot new Astor for was his unorthodox ways of fighting. As the guard traded blow after blow with his challenger, Astor deflected the sword of his sparring partner and kicked him in the stomach before grabbing him under the arms and throwing him into a weapon rack.

[New Roman Empire]

"Yeah, I hear that if they make a quest that it will be in a few days. Three at the latest, but most of the knights are bored, we just train and wait for somthing bad to happen." Chuckled John as he put his back against the wall. "See that girl, she is a new knight. That one should be in a kitchen, but I will admit she is attractive." Said John as he watched the guards spar.

Astor Cross
Camelot

Astor looked at John and shook his head in disapproval, "Somethings aren't meant to be said John. She may be a woman but that doesn't define what she can and can't do." replied Astor as he took himself off the wall and walked over to a sparring circle. He unsheathed his sword and called a guard over to spar him, Astor calculated his attack then sprung like a snake. With his force behind the swing, Astor hit the guards sword with a loud clang before punching him in the face. The one thing knights in Camelot new Astor for was his unorthodox ways of fighting. As the guard traded blow after blow with his challenger, Astor deflected the sword of his sparring partner and kicked him in the stomach before grabbing him under the arms and throwing him into a weapon rack.

"I am not saying she has to be there. I grew up with women cooking, I have never said she has to be there. I am just speaking my mind." Said John as he walkes towards the council. "If you need me, I will be in Merlin's tower. I need to get some info from him and only he can tell me the answer." Said John as he entered the castle and opened the door to Merlin's tower. "Merlin's apprentice, what is your name and is your master in?" Asked John.

[Fowlick]

"Greetings sir Brackmen. I am Henry. Master Merlin is up in his quarters, as he usually is in this hour. These times have worn on him in a dreary way and has left such a state in his bones."Henry said with a monotone voice.

[Terrah]

Hadrian Aurelianus, streets of Camelot

"Hunting a lot these days, Dame Dariana?" He said as he dismounted, drawing his Hunnic horse bow at the same time, the same one that his grandfather seized in battle as a Roman officer. "Shall we wager? Five shots, the winner gets ... 10 shillings?"

He drew his bow, loosed and hit his target dead centre. He was more used to shooting on horseback, but decent enough on foot as well.

Dariana Darenvol
Training grounds

After shooting a few rounds, Hadrian Aurelianus rode towards her "Hunting a lot these days, Dame Dariana?" He said as he dismounted, drawing his bow at the same time. "Shall we wager? Five shots, the winner gets ... 10 shillings?"
"hunting? I'm thinking about it" she could almost picture firing arrow at some of the idiot pigs who constantly doubt her abilities and stares at her breasts, Hadrian had already taken a shot and hit the centre mark. "it seems you've already started, and i love a challange" after setting up another arrow, aiming breifly before setting it loose. She sighed it was slightly to the right of the centre but she couldn't let him win, she could never let any man win if she had a choice in the matter. She took aim aim again breathing deeply before releasing the shot this one hitting the centre almost perfectly.

[New Roman Empire]

"Well then Henry, maybe you can give me some information, what dose the book have on the cloak and what have you heard about a possible quest to get the cloak?" Asked John as he walked in and shut the door behind him. "Also do you know who is going to be chosen for the said quest." Said John. As he walked over to the desk and looked out of the window.

[Arthurista]

Hadrian Aurelianus, streets of Camelot

"Hunting a lot these days, Dame Dariana?" He said as he dismounted, drawing his Hunnic horse bow at the same time, the same one that his grandfather seized in battle as a Roman officer. "Shall we wager? Five shots, the winner gets ... 10 shillings?"

He drew his bow, loosed and hit his target dead centre. He was more used to shooting on horseback, but decent enough on foot as well.

Dariana Darenvol
Training grounds

After shooting a few rounds, Hadrian Aurelianus rode towards her "Hunting a lot these days, Dame Dariana?" He said as he dismounted, drawing his bow at the same time. "Shall we wager? Five shots, the winner gets ... 10 shillings?"
"hunting? I'm thinking about it" she could almost picture firing arrow at some of the idiot pigs who constantly doubt her abilities and stares at her breasts, Hadrian had already taken a shot and hit the centre mark. "it seems you've already started, and i love a challange" after setting up another arrow, aiming breifly before setting it loose. She sighed it was slightly to the right of the centre but she couldn't let him win, she could never let any man win if she had a choice in the matter. She took aim aim again breathing deeply before releasing the shot this one hitting the centre almost perfectly.

"Impressive." Hadrian said. He knew she'd not back down from a challenge, which amused him greatly. He shot again and again, always perfect. The hunnic recurve bow was the perfect cavalry archer's weapon, less than three feet long, but powerful enough to punch clean through mail. It was, however, made with a lot of glue by the inhabitants of a drier climate. Here, where it always rains, the Britons preferred the simpler long bow, for good reason. Maintaining the recurve was annoying, although it made up for the disadvantage for being far easier to shoot from horseback.

On his fifth shot, however, he forgot to compensate for the wind and the arrow hit outside the red bullseye.

"Damn, that was close." He tossed bags of coin for Dariana to catch. "Enjoy your winnings, Dame Dariana. Soon, if this summon is what I think it is, we'll be shooting live targets before long. Do you know anything about this cloak?" Trained to be inquiring and sceptical, a magical cloak seemed implausible to the knight.

[Thrice Crownlands]

The Streets of Camelot, "The Shacks"

"Wha yu tink yur doin?" The words flowed with a stream of vomit as Maximian had found himself, once again, the unlucky custodian of of a drunkard. Of course, virtually nobody this time of day was in the tavern... nobody except the bloody scullery maid, who thought she could sneak a bit of drink... if you counted four tankards as "a bit." She probably woulden't remember the fact she got fired, nearly feel off a table, or the stain she was leaving on his vestment... but still, it was his duty as a knight of the realm to make sure even the most worthy of scorn didn't fall victeam to the cut-purses or manhunters who infested the streets of any decent town. Camelot may be better then some others... but it was still a city. So, there he was, trudging down the middle the streets, a slim, frazzled women on his back spew out whatever it was she'd eaten, trying to find the one home in this identical ally of hovels that her father apparently owned.

He let out a long sigh as his foot stuck against a pile of feces, leaving a stain on the leather. Thankfully, it was an old set... but it still only added insult to injury as his charge started to gargle out some sort of bawdy tune, though he could hardly understand it between the breaks and the giggles. "Act on your manners." He commanded her, his voice thick with a greek and eastern hybrid accent. This English... it just never sounded right to him. Greek flowed, and his native tongue was sharp, but English just ran all over the place... much like the children, dogs, and chickens he constantly found himself sidestepping until, finnally, he found the door he was looking for. Now doubt this girls father would still be working; he gathered peat, according to the tavernkeepr, but he opened the door anyways, flopping her down on the nearest safe peice of dirt and taking his leave, his hands finally free to brush the chunks off his shoulder.

What he needed was a chance to get out of this place; an honor of deed in England that might earn him a feif. Living in the castle wasn't so bad... but that came with this.

"An early day, then." He muttered to himself as he started up the castle. He would need a change of cloth, at least... and, he was scheduled to meet with the court later anyways. Certainly, it would be better then brushing off the prostitutes another night.

[Terrah]

"Damn, that was close." He tossed bags of coin for Dariana to catch. "Enjoy your winnings, Dame Dariana. Soon, if this summon is what I think it is, we'll be shooting live targets before long."

Almost surprised that she won as Hadrian was almost certainly the better archer although she would never admit it aloud because that would mean she said a man was better then her at something.

and although many knight and brave men...people were being called forth for this quest she doubted that she would be picked to go generally the men picked other men because they were more "reliable". What an excuse but she could only hope that she was finally sent to do something immportant something that would make her name go down in history, something to make women believe in themselves and to empower future generations to rise upon and claim their place beside men.

[Treko]

Astor Cross
Camelot

With a loud grunt, Astor lifted a guardsmen over his head and threw him into a couple of tables and chairs, being 6'2 had its advantages. "Do you yield?" asked Astor as he pointed the tip of his spatha at the neck of the guard "I yield." replied the guard who was quickly pulled off the ground by Astor. "Would anyone else like to challenge me?" asked Astor as he picked up a cup of water off of the table and took a couple of sit before sitting down in a nearby chair. As he took another sip of water, Astor was confronted by another guard "I will spar with you." said the guard as he stood in front of Astor, "Good, let us begin." replied Astor as he shook the guards hand and entered the sparring circle.

Attacks were traded but the guard was slowly being withered down by Astor's strikes, the final moment was finally come to fruition. The guard lunged at Astor and tried to slash him, Astor quickly sidestepped the attack and grabbed the guards sword hand and kneed him in the gut before throwing him towards Dariana's direction. "Anyone else?" Astor simply asked as he sat back to drink his water.

[Terrah]

[b]Astor Cross
Attacks were traded but the guard was slowly being withered down by Astor's strikes, the final moment was finally come to fruition. The guard lunged at Astor and tried to slash him, Astor quickly sidestepped the attack and grabbed the guards sword hand and kneed him in the gut before throwing him towards Dariana's direction. "Anyone else?" Astor simply asked as he sat back to drink his water.

After having an archery match with Sir Hadrian she manage to find her way to sparing, after watching a man beat up some guards she was more then willing to fight him, show him what a woman can be capable of. "I'll be happy to take your challange, unless your too pround to fight a woman" she said as she step over the guard that lay at her feet "or perhaps you should rest old man, I wouldn't want people thinking I'm taking advantage of a tired opponant" she started take of her chainmail underneath she had plain leather garments, if he wasn't going to fight her then she would rest, if he was then it wouldn't help he much anyway and she would need the speed and agility the lack of armour would give her.

[Arthurista]

Streets of Camelot

Hadrian was hungry after the bet and decided to head for lunch at the nearest tavern. Bumping into Sir Maximian, he embraced him and greeted the rough soldier as an old friend.

"By Mithras, Max, where have you been these few months?" Hadrian said in flawless Greek. "Gods, we must sit down and talk about this so-called quest. I think it's a hundred times more complicated than Merlin is going to say it is. There is something seriously fishy going on, don't you think?"

[Fowlick]

"Well then Henry, maybe you can give me some information, what dose the book have on the cloak and what have you heard about a possible quest to get the cloak?" Asked John as he walked in and shut the door behind him. "Also do you know who is going to be chosen for the said quest." Said John. As he walked over to the desk and looked out of the window.

"There is no information in the book other than that information that has been revealed to Arthur. Stipulations made by peasants are rumor. There will be a quest. As for the chosen party, the only thing I know, is that I will accompany whomever is to go."Henry said in a bored tone.

[New Roman Empire]

"Really, nothing else than what people already know. I mean is there anything on who is was made or who gave it it's powers?" Asked John as he paced around the room. So the apprentice is coming with us then, this cant be good. I mean he might have knowledge that could save us, but then me might now. But so a quest is a sure thing then. I might as well tell the others, so they dont get caught off guard. "Well, Henry, I will see you later." Said John as he left the tower and went to the training. "Hey knights come here for a second, I got some big news." said John as he leaned against the wall and waited. This quest should be fun, but it will take us out of Camelot and towards the north.

[The United Soviet Socialist Republic]

James Beckett,
Beckett Estate
James eventually decided to go off for some training, deciding that since he had not been on a quest in a while he needed a little brushing up on his skills. So he mounted his horse and said his goodbyes to his wife and rod off down to the training grounds where he greeted the others there as he chained his horse and began his training for the day.