For the King (private RP)

[wingfeather]

(This is a private RP between Mainhorse, Chloriosus, and me. If that is not you then please do not post)

In the vast expanses of the country of Darion, a whisper of rebellion has been rumored. A group of worthy warriors have dubbed themselves the bane of those openly defying their king and have sworn to dispel the group at all costs. But will they disband the malicious rebels before the monarchy is overthrown?

[mainehorse]

"Easy fellow. Easy." Casey says,patting the neck of the dapple grey gelding she stood beside. He was a recent purchase, a rescue one could say. He was still pretty iffy around people. He had his ears pinned back and he had just tried to nip her. But she had been quick enough to avoid his teeth. He'd make a fine warhorse with some work. He was a powerful beast. "Nobody is going to hurt you. You're safe" she says, keeping her hand on his neck. He needed to get used to touch, and eventually the weight of a rider and the presence of heavy weaponry.

[wingfeather]

Alesdair had been up early that morning, managing to slip past the guards and out of the castle making straight towards the forest. That was where he liked to spend his time most mornings, though he could tell when looking into his father’s identically grey eyes that the king thought the pastime useless. He was swathed in a light cloak of dark green material, the hood covered most of his face. It had been a cool and wet morning, as the dew drops that clung to his cloak as diamonds proved. He walked briskly past the stable arena and saw a woman riding a horse, and she was doing a good job of it too, for he could tell that the animal was frisky. But Alasdair did not dare stay long, lest she recognize who he was, though he didn’t really doubt that she could have had a suspicion since both were in the same band together.

[Chloriosus]

The sun hadn't yet began on its visible journey across the sky when Vokras woke up, bottle in hand and head leaned against the countertop, but it was already casting it morning gray shadows over the damp and dew covered buildings as he made his way out of the village, tightening the swad of cloth around his head whilst hissing at a cat that dare crossed his path. The cat unduly jumped away on someone's window sill, upsetting the flowers that were growing on it. Vokrass continued his trek into the woods, hoping to catch a morning swim before it began warming up. However, he kept a watchful eye as he moved amongst the thickly growing trees, for in the woods it could be hard to spot someone, especially when they were actively trying to remain concealed.

[mainehorse]

Casey quirks an eyebrow slightly as a hooded figure rushed past the arena, causing the gelding to rear upwards slightly. Where was he off to in such a rush? She shakes her head slightly, turning her attention back to her horse, her grip on the lead rope tightening slightly to keep the animal under control as she brings him back down with all four legs on the ground. "Whoa boy, it's okay" she says, leading him towards the gate. Perhaps she should take him somewhere that fewer people were rushing to and from. The forest would probably be quieter, so perhaps she could make more progress with him there she mused as she led the horse out of the arena.

[wingfeather]

Now that Alasdair had gotten the urge to wander out of his system he was able to calmly approach the castle, though he still kept his pace brisk as he passed the sentries stationed at the lowered drawbridge, he had by this time thrown back his hood, his fiery hair glinted in the new day light. The guards knew him by sight and allowed him entrance without a challenge. Quickly walking beneath the raised portcullis and passing the courtyard, Alasdair entered his father's library and closed the door behind himself. His mother, tall and stately as a queen should be, shot him a disapproving glance when she saw his tousled hair and roughed up clothing, but said nothing. His father didn’t seem to notice and ushered him closer, several of his advisors and commanders were present around him, including the captain of the guard. There had been rumors of the rouge band. The messengers had said that they were far north this time, and had been setting fire to towns as well as abducting and killing those who openly proclaimed loyalty to the king. Alasdair knew by the grave faces surrounding him that this was to be a council for what to do of this newest mischief of the enemy.

[mainehorse]

Eventually, Casey returns the gelding to his stall in the stables. She wasn't going to expect a miracle with him overnight, he was formerly a wild horse after all before he had been captured by a nobleman who had caught him 'stealing' an apple from one of his trees. He needed time to become accustomed to human touch and that would take time. But he was making progress. Just about a week ago, he wouldn't even let her place a hand on his neck. And progress was progress no matter how slow. Every horse required a different approach, and this gelding was no different. He was very different from the ornery mare she had trained for one of her adoptive father's soldiers, Autumn he had named her she mused. Which in turn reminded her that she needed to come up with a name for the gelding. She couldn't keep calling him 'fellow' or 'the grey' after all. She hadn't gotten around to it yet. She latches the stall door shut and turns to leave the stables. As far as she was aware, from what her adoptive father had said, there was to be a meeting held about the recent slew of arson, abductions, and murders supposedly being committed by a rumored band of rogues. It was definitely an issue that needed to be dealt with, and she was curious to see what the verdict would be. But she doubted her presence would be welcome at the council, so she'd likely have to wait until after to find out what was decided.

[Chloriosus]

Satisfied and chilled Vokras had gotten out of the water and was silently stalking through the woods. The sun had almost completely risen, but the tall and thick trees cast large and dark shadows over the forest floor. As he finally rejoined through a narrow path in the woods, directing his way back towards the village, he stopped short right in the middle of the way. There, facing him squarely and peering rampantly into his soul with hollow-staring glassy eyes, stood a cat. And not just any cat, That Cat. The very one that had been unceremoniously booted onto the window sill. Vokras counter-stared at it and then spit onto the floor in the cat's direction. The cat didn't budge, it just evenly stared. Vokras, not the least bit abashed by this advanced towards it and looked at it. Come to study it, it was not at all an ordinary cat. It's bedraggled white stump of a tail was twitching back an forth, its overly long teeth were dripping with cat spit, and its left ear was chewed off. It was also a rusty brown color, with one black front leg and one tan back leg, and it's one ear was a gray smudged color. TO add to all that, all four legs had three toes, save for one, which had two, and it's left eye was green whilst the other was a yellowish brown. Altogether, it looked like what the cat dragged in after it had been stuck in the river for three years, even the flies dutifully avoided the cat. Vokras hissed at the creature again, but this time it didn't move. So, he took a stick, his temper rather flared and whacked the cat firmly with it, earning a yowl that sounded like it came from anything but a cat. Then, he took up the cat by it's hindleggs, and pitched it into the river. "That'll teach you, you brood of a cat!", he shouted quietly after it, watching it splash with quite a satisfaction, and then began back on his way towards the village.

[wingfeather]

Luckily for Alasdair the meeting ended rather quickly, he was never one for these types of things but he bore it nonetheless. It was mostly a bunch of messengers making vague reports, and most were about pretty much the same thing, rebel group setting fire, kidnappings, killings, and the general destruction of property (looting, vandalism, and so on). When the reports finally ended the rest of the council was spent contemplating and discussing what to do about it all. The warrior band was called into question and Alasdair assured the group that the band would be honored to look into the matter, he knew. The others nodded, VERY few knowing that he was actually part of the band. So preparations were made and messengers were sent out with orders for those in the band to assemble at the north gate of the castle just before morning light on the morrow. There was also strict instructions stating that weapons were to remain accessible yet concealed for most of the journey. Provisions would be provided, but all else was to be collected by the soldier. The orders were to be delivered in hand if the receiver should be found or else it was to be left at their quarters.

[mainehorse]

Casey shuts the door to the stables as she exited the large building. As she was making her way back to the castle, she spots a messenger rushing towards her with a letter in hand. The letter in question seemed to bear the royal wax seal she noted as the messenger came to a stop in front of her. He stood in at about the same height she did, maybe an inch shorter though. She recognized him, though she had no name to place to his face even after all these years. "Ser Moreau, I've been bade deliver this to you" he says, holding the letter out for her to take. She nods slightly, reaching forward to take the letter. "Much obliged" she says as she breaks the seal to open up the letter. She pulls out the sheet of parchment inside, unfolding it and reading as she made her way up the stairs and into the castle. So they'd be leaving on the morrow, that should allow for plenty of time to prepare she mused. She'd have to sharpen her greatsword, and likely fix her cloak so that she had something to conceal it with. She loathed sewing, it seemed her hands were much better suited to less delicate pursuits than sewing, like wielding a sword for example. She could do that with ease. But give her a needle and thread and it was a slow and tedious process. But it needed to be done, so there was no use in skirting around it she supposed.

[wingfeather]

Myles sat straight in a velvet seat whilst the barber gave him a trim, ''dont go too high Bartholomew,'' he said holding a silver mirror and looking at his reflection, there was to be a dance on the morrow, hosted by his father, and as he was absolutely by no means going to ask anyone to dance with him he still wanted to look his best, as he did for literally every occasion. A messenger was suddenly ushered in. Myles shot him a pained glance but when he heard it was from the king himself, gave a languid movement of his hand for the detail to be read to him, ''probably wants me to make an appearance at his royal banquet,'' he said in a bored voice, though one with sharp ears would have heard the pleased undertone. When the detail had been read to him, Myles had unfortunately been taking a sip of wine, he proceeded to spit it out with great force, ''WHAT,'' he yelped. The barber had finished with the trimming and was making himself disappear. Myle's father entered the room, ''well,'' he said, ''this is a summons as well as an order.'' Myles harrumphed and told a servant to pack for him. How he rued the day when he swore allegiance to this group of ''peasant vagabonds,'' as he called them.

[Chloriosus]

Vokras was already near the rather smallish house he occupied with his large family. His thoughts were still dwelling on the strange encounter he had had with that cat, but as his house popped into view, he beheld a sight that quickly put him on edge and sparked his desire to end someone. A man, rather medium in height and unsure in demeanor was standing outside the house, his hand wandering about in his pocket. Vokras silently neared the man, who, after looking inside one of the windows rather flusteredly, entered the house without knocking. He hadn't been in the house for ten seconds when he was aggressively thrown out, followed by an angry spew of words as the broad frame of Vokras' mother popped into view, a wooden cooking spoon held threateningly in hand. She was scolding him relentlessly, waving the cooking spoon around as she punctuated every syllable she uttered with a swipe of it. The man drew himself stiffly up in an attempt to regain his dignity, the privilege of getting a word in edgewise remaining ungranted by Vokras' outraged mother. Finally, the man gave up and shrugged his shoulders. "I warn ye madam, this will come at a cost for ye!", were his last words of warning before he turned to head back from where he came from. At this point it was Vokras' turn to spring into action. He did not exactly get along all too well with his mother all the time, but this man had DARED to threaten her, and although he knew she was in absolutely no need of it, Vokras sprang the man in her defense after he had gone out of his mothers sight. The two went down in a pile of dust, arms and legs, the man's arms flailing wildly as he tried to prevent himself from being completely beat up. He had some sense in his head, for he lay motionless, not attempting to fight back whilst calling out, "Stop it! I have a message for you, or rather, the king does." Vokras eyed his suspiciously, his fist still hovering in the air. The messenger pulled the note out of his pocket and handed it over. If looked official enough, and Vokras unduly let the man go, taking the note from him and letting him go. The messenger took this opportunity to get up, and shakily tipped his hat. "Good day sir.", he said, his face red. Vokras tipped his head at him. "Next time, knock.", he advised, his anger having petered out as fast as it had came.

[mainehorse]

Casey folds up the note containing the orders and slips it into her pocket as she continued down the hallway. I'd best get started on repairing my cloak she mused as she reached the door to her quarters. That would be the most time consuming part of preparing to set out and she had to be ready in time to get some modicum of sleep before it was time to leave just prior to dawn on the morrow. She'd need to get Azure ready to leave in the morning as well. He wasn't broke to saddle yet, but she had worked with him some on accepting the weight of a rider. So perhaps this trip would be a good opportunity to get him used to being ridden without a saddle, and then she could get him used to wearing tack later on. She grasps the handle to her room with one hand and opens the door, stepping inside. There was much to do. She'd have to check her armor over as well to ensure it was in working order since there was bound to be fighting at some point or another. And she'd have to say farewell to her father as well. 

[wingfeather]

Alasdair and his father waited with royal dignity as the advisers and all invited to the council departed, the meeting closed. After the door was closed again Alasdair looked into his son’s eyes, they were nearly level but Alasdair was slightly taller than his father. “Well,” his father said in his quiet and deep voice, but he didn’t get to finish as the queen suddenly suddenly stepped forward her dark silk dress rustling against the hardwood floors. Her pale and finely shaped face was stern as her deep blue eyes appraised him. Suddenly she wrapped her graceful arms around him. They stood a moment, before she released him again. The king smiled, “stay safe son,” he said quietly. The queen nodded once. Alasdair bowed to the both of them and left the room.

[Chloriosus]

Vokras stuck the note in his pocket and nonchalantly walked into the house, taking care to stay out of his mother's sight as he made his way up the stairs into the room he shared with his three brothers. None of them were at home at the moment, one had been missing for the last four months and the other two both were goodness knows where at the moment. He decided it would be best to prepare for everything now. The note had said to conceal his weapons, and for that he was going to need a cloak of some sort. He had had one, but his brother had taken it with him the day he had gone missing, so there was a predicament. After some thought Vokras decided to "borrow" that of his sisters', a risky and rather reckless act. He was in luck, for although his sister was a little bit shorter, it still fit him tolerably. His next problem was how to conceal his crossbow. He had a sword, but it wasn't really his preferred weapon. After some thought, he decided he would pocket a dagger and possibly carry the bow on his back, or perhaps conceal it in a bundle.