Knights and Knees

Log Info

• Title: Knights and Knees
• Emitter: Vaera
• Characters: Knightmare, Vaera
• Place: A15: Alexandrian Mountain Road
• Time: November 8th, 2021
• Summary: Betrys, often referred to as Knightmare, has returned from a trip with the bodies of two comrades, who requested to be buried with Vardaman traditions in Alexandria, and their swords delivered to their successors. Vaera, who is struggling with her new leg, is taking a run through the mountain pass when she encounters the knight and her steed passing on the bodies. Vaera inquires about the knight referring to Vardama as the death singing dragon, and Betrys explains how Dragonier was ruled by dragons, and had fallen some time ago. Vaera explains how her new leg is not working properly due to lack of understanding, and she asks if she can examine the war golem's leg to see if she could figure out what was wrong. Betrys agrees on the condition they find a place to stable her horse, and Vaera brings them to the stables outside the northern gates, where the leave to reconvene later.

There is a sort of uncertain tension outside the Temple of the Enduring One, young guardsmen standing off against a gleaming Memento Mori of a shattered kingdom:

Dame Betrys of Dragonier, the Knight of the Lost Crown stands, her tail making a slow undulation behind her as she gently strokes the neck of the Stalwart Cysgodawyr, who's russet tail lashes with much more passion.

He is, in most respets, a beast of war, though here, to, he serves as one of burden. Tragicly, there are the telltale shapes of two shrouded bodies borne over his armoured saddle, while the Knightmare, considerate of her partner's burdens, bears the saddlebags and most of their weapons over her shoulders.

"I would see these honored dead set to the Graces of the Grey lady, and their blades bequeathed to their successors per their will, goodmen. Pray, inform the Mournerss that Betrys of Dragonier has returned per the Covenant forthwith." she intones, her voice soft and smooth, so to sound less as if coming from the base of a chasm.

The mountain paths were a common spot for those seeking to train, with their rough pathways winding through the mountains making a difficult path to travel at any speed on foot.

Which means that it is a perfect place to try out some new equipment. A large, dark red makari is out for a jog through the path, and her travel leads her past the temple, where the knight and it's steed are delivering there burden. Her gait is more than a bit stiff, and jerks around once in a while, but she continues on, until she slows to a stop nearby, looking up to the night.

"Greetings, Dame Bertrys, right? Hope you are doing well, though, judging by what you are carrying, I assume that things are not the best." She says, looking up to the bodies. "I am used to the burning of the dead, but if entrusting them to the mourners is their wish or yours, I understand."

There is an audible swallow from the pimplier of the two guards, who, after hesitating only an instant longer than the stockier other, is sent inside to retrieve someone.

There is a bow of the Reaper's grin and a soft spoken, "Thank you." before the new hail reaches her ears.

Cysgodawyr, the enormous mount, clop-clops a forehoof as an ear flicks, though he affords a low whicker for his part.

Betrys turns her attention to, "Mistress Vaera, well met!" She turns to regard her brave steed's burdens, nodding, "We are well, though, yea, we come with sad tidings of noble souls felled doing their Good Work."

Dipping to her haunches a moment, the Knightmare divests herself of her awkward burdens, then steps around the warhorse to begin unfastening the bodies that they may be more readily removed once the Mourners arrive, "Oft, we too, prefer to commit the dead to fire, that they may soar up to the graces of the Death Singing Dragon, but in their last, these two did both pray we return them to Alexandria." <Draconic>

Aryia has arrived.

The red makari nods, and steps a bit closer, but she decides not to unfasten the bodies, knowing that warhorses could be temperamental in their dispositions.

"You refer to the gods in their draconic forms, not the way most races do." Vaera notes, facing the knight proper. "It is the way, the death singing dragon can receive their souls, and the ashes provide blessings on the ancestral grounds. But if it is what they wished, I understand, respecting customs can be just as important."

A nod of the grim faced head, and Betrys replies, "I do. My land was once ruled under the Covenant of the Golden Dragons, until the Vile One slew Great Hyrenstralza." here, there is a note of solemn mourning in the construct's cavernous tone. <Draconic>

The Knightmare continues to unfasten the ties, and soon, pairs of acolytes bearing stretchers flank a Mourner who moes with a certain stately grace.

Cysgodawyr, knowing the proceedure well, does still his agitated movement, though his ears flick now and then as Betrys carefully unburdens him of the first shrouded body, "Lady Dreyla Seev." she intones, setting the bundle lightly upon the first stretcher, "Slain in ambush, but she passed ere our arrival. Her comrade-" a nod toward the body still draped over the enormous Destrier, "Sir Thomas Windlass, of Myrridon, bid me bring them both, here, that the Grey Lady is returned her due, and their worthy blades be passed to their successors."

"Dragonier, yes, I have heard about the place, and what transpired there. This one is still saddened to hear of what transpired there. While the dragons do not serve a direct role in Am'shere, they are still respected." She states with a short puff of air. "While they passed, I hope their duty was fulfilled before returning here, and that the need for those who the blades are returned to pick them up themselves is little.Were you able to locate the kin in question? I know that Alexandria is a large place."

The red makari taps one foot against the ground, causing a loud clicking noise and a kick of the limb in question.

A nod to the Sith's words, and the Golem looks over her penanted shoulder to regard her, "We can only hope so. Until all have passed, it is up to those that go one to continue the fight."

With as much care as she had for the first, the Knightmare finally relieves Cysgodawyr of his morbid burdens, and the russet tail wags some in relief even whilst Sir Thomas is set to this new litter.

She straightens and steps back from the emburdened acolytes to draw her sword.

With a flourish, she brings the blade up before her in salute with her head bowed. Her repose is short lived, a silent commendation to the slain, and the blade returns to it's sheath before she turns to Vaera, "Alas, I am ill suited to search so in so vast a city as this. I understand my countenance offers scant comfort to the newly berieved." to put it mildly.

With a tip of her head to an angle of regard to the leg, she inquires, "Are you well?"

"Be well. And do not let looks deceive you, guards, it is intent that matters as much as appearance." She advises the guards before the return to their posts, and her tail thumps just once before she turns back to the knight.

"That being said, having an approachable appearance can be a boon in cities such as this. I believe it is mostly in regards to your facial structure." She states bluntly. "I have heard that war golems are capable of swapping parts out, perhaps an alternative face plate would put people more at ease?"

She kicks the leg again in question, and sighs. "It is not that much of a problem, but, my leg has been acting up ever since I had it made and put on. Not as bad as before, but I was actually hoping to speak to you more about such matters, if you are willing to speak."

Knightmare shifts her weight, tail swaying behind her as she considers Vaera on her words for a moment, "It can be done, though, in truth I had considered such to be a bit self indulgent."

In no doubt a pantomime of someone she had known before, the golem makes a motion of stroking her chin as she considers that, "If, perhaps it would be a boon, then...." she trails off.

The leg catches her attention once more, and, with a slight cock of the head before she nods, "Of course, though... of what would we speak?"

Meanwhile, with their immediate concerns addressed, the Mourners carry the two felled souls inside to be seen to.

Aryia has left.

"Everyone has different ideas of what is frivolous, but if you ever need to speak with people, it could be worth having on hand." Vaera chuffs, looking back to the skull-like visage and nodding. "And there is nothing wrong with indulging yourself at times, as keeping one's mood up is important at times as well. Though, if you go to the artifice guild for such things, make sure to speak clearly and firmly about what is needed, lest they attempt to add too much extra."

Vaera pulls on the edge of her coat, revealing her leg, where it had been wood before, was now a shining limb of steel plating, with a clawed foot that rested on the ground. "I finished the work on my leg, and I was hoping to speak to you about your own. I have never seen a war golem with a form such as yours, and I mean nothing bad by that, but, replacement limbs for makari are even less common than normal ones. So it has been, a bit of a struggle."

"A fine advisement, thank you." Betrys concedes with a nod, then steps back around her horse to start to set their things in proper order on the saddle, stroking the horse's neck gently again, "Well borne, old friend, thank you."

Whicker-snort.

She pat-pats the warhorse's side, then buckles the rest of things in place, sparing a look to the limb as Vaera makes to show it to her, "I see. My creator was of a singular mind on such matters, though I do not claim to understand his reasons." A moment to process, then, her head cants, "You wish to see how my leg functions, then?"

"You know yourself at least, it is what you do with yourself that matters." Vaera chuffs, and she nods at the question. "If it is alright, I was hoping you may be able to share some insight. The joints for the leg, I was not able to find much information on."

"I understand it is strange to ask, but it is something I wished to understand. But I understand if you would rather not as well, if it may be a strange or sensitive subject."

Knightmare stroke's what is left exposed of the coal fur past the barding as her face again turns to Vaera's, "We have ridden together, and stood united against common foes, and have thus far acquitted yourself with honor."

Her chin lowers slightly, as does her tone, "It would be unworthy to not offer what meager aid I can, my friend."

She straightens to her full and looks about, "Though, here is hardly the place for such things, have you a workshop about, perhaps near a proper stable for my boon companion? He has been most patient of late, and I would favor him well if I may."

There is a stable outside the north gate used by many of my kin that would stable your companion with no problem, the hay is fresh, and they even offer game for swiftclaws to eat. I usually use the facilities by the beast keepers in mictlan, but they are a bit far off." Vaera explains, gesturing her snout down the road. "You would consider me an ally or friend? Then so be it, you seem to hold yourself well, and it was good to travel with you. There is no workshop, but I have tools and the like for maitenance of my own limb, and can set up a camp near the stables."

Knightmare gives a nod, "So be it!" with something resembling good cheer, albeit with that sort of creepily hollow intonation of hers. She patpats the warbeast anew, "Come, Cysgodawyr, let's find you good warm lodging and, with luck, an apple and fine feed, eh!"

That, apparantly, sounds very good to the spirited mount, who gives a whinny of approval, and, they follow Vaera's lead to the stable in question to handle the affairs, "You show a good character, Vaera. Ever would I want to consider such souls my friends, unless our causes sadly must set us apart, but I do not see that currently to be so, do you?" she muses.

"Yes, let us be off." Vaera nods and chuffs, before she is leading them down the road. Her gait is not balanced, clearly, and the leg locks up at the knee on several occasions, but they manage to make good time before they reach the stables outside the north gate, well lit from the outside, with several stablehands, makari and otherwise, going about their business.

"The rates are quite good, and they do have fresh apples even, what with the harvest from fall being near finished." Vaera states. "I will set up camp north of hear, if you need to tend to Cysgodawyr more. I imagine that some brushing would be good with how long they have been travelling."

Knightmare tends the negotiations with patience, and her softly modulated tone, though she does have a certain unsettling effect on the stablehands, regardless.

IN due time, as the arrangements are handled, she turns and nods to Vaera, "It wouldn't be right, otherwise. I should be alone in short order, though if you would like to grab a meal, we can go forth together once I am done, here?"

Vaera keeps to herself, but she retrieves a creature from the stables, one of the makari stablehands coming out with a small, dark green swiftclaw that chirps when they see the red makari, and runs over to where they were standing. Vaera chuckles and scratches their head. "Ah, yes, I will wait here then, but do not feel rushed. I will likely just spend some time burning off some energy with my companion here so they will not tear up the camp when I attempt to make it. Do you need any food, Betrys? Or, if not, would you like some? I know some war golems do enjoy food, and I should be able to prepare something."

Knightmare gently strokes the horse's neck as she watches Vaera tend to her exciteable swiftclaw, "Thank you, no. I lack the mechanics. I shouldn't be overlong, though, if your friend would like a good run, first."

She turns to guide Cysgodawyr into the stall, pausing at the mouth to regard the Sith again, "Say an hour, then?"

Vaera nods and pats the swiftclaw next to her on the flank once, offering the golem a sharp grin. "If I can manage to keep up at the moment. Fair enough, I will return her within the hour. Again, there is no rush however, as I do not have too much to be done today."

"Take care, Betrys, I shall see you soon." She offers in parting, turning to run off, with the small raptorlike lizard already sprinting off at a rapid pace. Vaera sighs, and jogs off after them, the leg locking up a few more times.