After the meeting and Kal confronts Harp
Subject The meeting ends
Ranthir, somewhat embarrassed at his literal, emotional reaction to the prophesy looks down for a moment. When he looks up again, Heronin is gone.
"Sargeant Harp, do not mistake my concern over the details of the prophecy as any bearing on my willingness to join you in this quest. You have been a true friend and had nearly as much to do with leading our last adventure as I did. You have my sword and my crossbow at your service. I am still concerned at the wording of the prophecy. To me it sounded like the Lady would be taken after the marriage took place. I may be wrong. I should not have reacted so strongly."
Ranthir looks to the rest of the group and continues speaking.
"To all of you, I offer an apology for my harshness. I have had difficulties controlling my temper for the last few years. I have acted in a manner unbecoming of my family. Both my mother and my father. I have come to terms with my father and I hope that this will help me come to terms with my temper. I have held my father responsible for many of the difficulties in my life that are not his fault. This is why I have not gone by my given name recently. I now wish to go by my given name and contribute to the order as my father would. My full name is Ranthir Corron. Please, call me Ranthir. If you are too used to calling me Ran, I will not hold it against you." Ran finishes with a smile and turns back to address Harp.
"Sargeant Harp, with your permission I would like to seek out Knight/Captain Angelwing to offer him my personal apologies."
From: Kevin
Subject The meeting ends
Speaking carefully, Harp replies
"Ranthir, as we are not yet on our mission or journey, you need not seek my permission to leave. However, I do think it wise that you make amends with your friend. Harsh words said in the heat of discussion are best not left softened by the calm of retrospection.
When you have a chance, I would appreciate a few minutes of your time to discuss this trip. But this can wait until you have talked to the Knight/Captain."
From: Randy
Subject The meeting ends
"Thank-you Harp. I will seek you out as soon as I have finished speaking with Heronin."
With that Ranthir makes his exit. He seeks out Heronin and apologizes to him. "Heronin, I am sorry for the anger I expressed. I may have been taking the prophecy too literally. The way it was worded sounded to me that Rochelle would be taken after the wedding. I still think that there is a chance that this interpretation may be correct and so I recommend placing extra guards on Rochelle and to make sure they are those who are trusted to you. I place myself at your service and I offer myself as a personal guard for Rochelle throughout the wedding preperations and ceremony. If this is suitable to you then I will set up guard at Rochelles' chambers at first daylight. Once again, please accept my apologies for my emotional response. There is much difficulty in my mind these days." Ranthir extends his hand to his friend, hoping to put this disagreement behind them.
From: Mark
Subject Ran and Angelwing
Angelwing takes the proferred hand, clasping it with his. "Ran, or should I say Ranthir" he smiles as he says this, joking with his old friend "Thanks for your concern, but the Lady will be well guarded." He holds up his hand as Ranthir starts to object "But you are not under my command and may spend your night as you see fit. If it is guarding my intended so be it. Maybe you can keep the other guards awake like that one time you helped keep me awake when I was playing guard to the Ambassador from the elves."
Ranthir's serious tone almost breaks when he recalls visting Anglewing years ago while the Paladin, still new in the order, was on guard duty and having troubles keeping alert. Ran had sung a few bawdy ballads he had learned. Angelwing had been glad of the company until the next morning when the Captain of the guard had called him into his office and told him how the Ambassador had been unable to do his daily mediation due to the singing. A week of KP duty had resulted.
"Ran, do what you will. But please help Sergeant Harp out. He is new to his position, and while he shows much promise, he has need of guidance. If the hated enemy of our order can steal Rochelle from the middle of our Chapter House, with all the protections we have in place, then the war is already lost. I must go. There is much to do to prepare for the wedding. I have rituals to perform before the ceremony."
OODM: If Ranthir has nothing else to say Angelwing departs.
From: Karl
Subject Ran and Angelwing
If they can get Rochelle from the Chapterhouse, the terrorists have already won.
From: Jason
Subject After the meeting
As Ranthir exits the room, Ragnar takes a half-step forward, as if to detain him, but comes to a halt himself when Ranthir disappears into the corridor. The dwarf's eyes are slightly startled, but a moment later he composes himself and crosses the room to stand before Harp. His gaze is direct but not harsh as he introduces himself.
"I am Ragnar, son of Glim and servant of Heironeous. I have heard of you in recent years, and am pleased to greet you." He does not offer his hand, although he will shake Harp's if it is offered. He glances around at the other party members as he continues. "Indeed, I am honored to have been selected to accompany you. Whatever your own reasons may have been for accompanying Harp these last few weeks, it is clear that my god trusts your intentions and your abilities."
Returning his gaze towards Harp, he says, (after Harp makes his reply if he wishes) "It was mentioned that you had a vision, in which you were given some glimpse one of our enemy's most powerful servants. I would be pleased to hear of this encounter in some detail, now or at whatever time is convenient. With planning and our god's favor we may be better prepared next time he manifests himself, for I am sure you have not escaped his attention."
From: Josh
Subject After the meeting
Kal says to no one in particular: "A dwarf and half-orc. This should be great."
From: Jake
Subject After the meeting
OOC: :D
From: Kevin
Subject After the meeting
OOC: Jason, which vision are you referring to? The one the previous group had after rescuing Rochelle?
IC: Harp looks down at the dwarf. He nods his greeting and says:
"Well met Ragnar. I hesitate to say that I have not heard of you, but I have only been a member of the Order for a few years, though I grew up here. I welcome you as a fellow brother of the Order. I hope to learn from you in this coming journey - while the martial aspects of our Order are usually a more natural fit for me, I have learned somewhat of what can be accomplished when one grows in the following of Heironious. Prior to our departure, I would like to talk about the grace we have been granted by the Battle Lord and how we might be able to utilize it to best effect when we journey. However, there will time enogh for that after the ceremony tomorrow morning."
Upon hearing Kal's comment, Harp will turn to him and confront him, towering over him as best he can.
"You have continued to express your distaste for some of your companions on these journeys. While I had no place to speak before, I do so now. You join this group, if indeed you chose to, of your own choice. If you make that choice, I expect you to show respect to all of its members. If you cannot or will not, then I will not let you journey with us. It is the business of our enemy Hextor to cause dissension and strife amongst our ranks. If you wish to be a boon to his plans, so be it, but I will not bring you along while we attempt this. You joined us out of a debt of honor to my friend Alatyr. I call that debt paid. I ask you for your vow on this matter. Join us of your own free will and accept these companions, or go your own way, free of us and any duty to us."
Harp will await a response from Kal.
From: Josh
Subject After the meeting
Kal stares Harp straight in the eye, neither person moves in the slightest. At first it seems they are going to draw their weapons and fight, but then it becomes apparent that it's a battle of will power. Neither warrior wants to be the one to back down.
As time passes, the tension grows, no one else dares to speak. Kal's face is a mask of a smirk, his eyes revealing nothing of what he's thinking. The tension in the room is electric, everyone else feels their adrenaline start to pump. 30 seconds go by. A minute. Neither budge. Harp standing stern, Kal posed both nonchalantly and aggressively. His hand rested on his belt mere inches from his blade.
A minute-thirty, still no motion. Both combantants are unwilling to even blink. The adreneline in the observers subsides, they feel weary from just watching the two battle.
In a motion faster than the eye could completely follow, Kal draws his sword, flips it around and holds it open palmed, rested across his hands.
"Understand this, half-human: My debt will be paid when I decide, no sooner. I am going to join you on this quest, Hextor is an enemy of my God as well as yours. But you shall not have my word until I have yours: Swear now, in front of your God, in front of your friends, and in consequence of my blade. Swear that you will see this through to the end. Swear that you will not betray us or the cause to your worse half. Swear that you will heed good council from Ranthir, myself, and the rest of the group. Swear this now, and you have my alliegence in this matter, along with my word."
From: Karl
Subject After the meeting
You go, Big Boy! Slap some manners into him!
From: Karl
Subject After the meeting
Salix has long since learned to pay no mind to Kal. He hears some mumbling, but cares so little about Kal's opinions at this point he doesn't even try to parse it.
From: Josh
Subject After the meeting
OOC: Where's Kal's cheering section? :'(
From: Jake
Subject after the meeting
Great turn!
From: Kevin
Subject After the meeting
Harp starts to flare in anger as this little elf questions his devotion to the Battle Lord. Had not Heironios himself sent one of his messengers to Harp just a few days ago? How dare Kal "require" that Harp swear again - as if Kal had the same position as the Battle Lord!! Impudent elf!!
But, as Harp remembers the visitation he had received, he remembers the words - he must watch his wild side. He must control his other side. He was being watched and judged by a much higher authority than Kal. It was to Him that he must prove himself. Killing this elf here would not bring glory to Heironious - indeed, it would likely get him cast out of the Order. Taking a deep breath Harp thinks about how to repsond.
"I have taken vows to my god that you have no knowledge of. The members of the Order will vouchsafe for that if you have any question. It is on the strength of that vow that my Captain has chosen me to lead this journey, unworthy and unready though I think I am. But since I have been chosen, it is my responsibility to be sure that all who join do so willingly and without malice toward the others. I will not shirk that duty. You have drawn your weapon in the house of my brothers, and yet you wish me to swear that I will not betray you and the others. It seems to me that your worries might be more safely put upon yourself than on me. At least I recognize my weaknesses.
But, if it is an outward act that you need to satisfy your lack of trust, then I call on my companions to stand with me here and now. Salix, Surin, Ranthir, and you, Ragnar, fellow member of the Order, will you stand with me?"
With this, Harp will look to the other members to join him in facing Kal down. If they agree, Harp will then say to Kal
"With these friends as my witnesses, I swear to them, and to you, that I will see this through to the end, giving my life for all those who join us of their own free will against the machinations of Hextor."
From: Josh
Subject After the meeting
Kal pauses a moment, and his smirk falls, his entire stance changes. His sword shoots back into it's sheath as quickly as it came out.
"You misunderstand every action I make, Half-orc." Kal says quietly, "I show you my trust by laying my blade in front of you, and you see a threat. How do you propose I follow a man who will not take my trust when I offer it?"
"You speak of being able to control your rage, but you jump on every opportunity I give you to fight me. Do you think I became a defender of The Nations without having the self control to hold my tounge? I have baited you at every step, and you have taken the bait each time.
"I do not hate you half-orc, I fear you. I fear your inability to control yourself, I fear the trust each of these men have in you. I know what it is to be hated for who you were born, do you think I would do the same to another? I do not doubt your commitment, your intentions are clearly good. I doubt your willpower."
With that Kal leaves, the question of whether he'll be joining the party hangs in the air, unanswered. OOC: Kal will go back to whatever room is his and drill with his sword.