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House Milewski Turn 1

oniwaka21
Jun 4th, 2017
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  1. 01[21:12] <SpaceThor> The warmth of summer shines on the duchy of Zienie, in the south of Krzymosze. Farms are tended by peasants, windmills stand off in the distance, and the occasional cloud in the sky gives a cool reprieve from the hot rays of the sun. A knight rides along a well-traveled dirt road. Ahead of him, Zienie Castle, the ruling seat of his Lady, the Duchess Bianka Milewski. The castle is a grand creation, its walls and towers protecting those inside the the castle town from the travails of bandits and monsters.
  2. 01[21:12] <SpaceThor> The red and blue banner of the Milewski dynasty shines as it hangs from the parapets, and guards keep diligent watch out over the surrounding hilly countryside.
  3. [21:17] <Earthflame> Bright steel gleams upon both horse and rider, the fine bay stallion wearing the armour just as well as its rider. His helm is off, exposing dark hair gone just a little wild, a bush of beard about a chin and an extravagant moustache extending from his upper lip, bent back just a little where the helmet must press it. From his armoured back rise two strange 'wings' of metal, with feathers in
  4. [21:17] <Earthflame> white and red, matching his heraldry- But for a token of blue and red, a sign of his fealty to the Milewski line.
  5. 01[21:21] <SpaceThor> You pull up to the castle gate, and the guards start raising the porticullis to allow you inside. Zienie is a bustling town, merchants making their living selling to those who live in and outside the walls. Children run past your horse as you travel up the dirt streets to the highest part of the town: Zienie Keep. The occasional beggar breaks eye contact, trying to not look directly at you as you ride to the next porticullis.
  6. 01[21:25] <SpaceThor> A guard out front waves for you to stop. "Name and business?"
  7. [21:25] <Earthflame> Jacek smiles at the children, young enough that he's not entirely forgotten being their age, but gives the beggars a sideways look... Experience of the Duchess had changed the way his family looked at such people. They might be unfortunates, or they might simply be using that as a disguise... Still, it was Her city. They were either her assets, or not her problem. He turns bright blue eyes to
  8. [21:25] <Earthflame> the guard, giving the man a curt nod. "Sir Jacek Skorupa, here on the orders of the Duchess."
  9. 01[21:26] <SpaceThor> He nods. "One moment, Sir." He turns. "Check and see if Sir Skorupa's on the list!" A guard on top of the gatehouse disappears from sight
  10. [21:27] <Earthflame> He lets out a 'tsk' at that. Here on her orders and made to wait at the gate? It was either incompetence or an insult...
  11. 01[21:27] <SpaceThor> "Sorry sir, new orders on how to handle visitors, from the Lady of the Castle."
  12. 01[21:28] <SpaceThor> The guard on top of the gatehouse returns, and the portcullis slides up. "Looks like you're good. Welcome to the keep, sir."
  13. [21:29] <Earthflame> "Good day, soldier." Another curt follows, prefunctory but polite, before he rides through, drawing himself up into proper bearing, presenting his best to those who might see it. The weathering on his features belie his youth, the training of a Knight a scourge that strikes away weakness with every passing year.
  14. 01[21:30] <SpaceThor> You're met with a familiar face as you come in. Pawel, the stablemaster. "Sir Skorupa, welcome." He bows. "May I take your horse to the stable?"
  15. [21:32] <Earthflame> "Please do, Pawel." He nods, letting a boy take the reins before stepping down, patting the bay. "Take good care of Sila for me."
  16. 01[21:32] <SpaceThor> One of the stable boys comes at Pawel's request to take Sila to get brushed and fed. The keep lies ahead of you.
  17. [21:33] <Earthflame> He pauses, removing the wings and stowing them before entering. As impressive as they were, they did sometimes get in the way when going through doors.
  18. 01[21:34] <SpaceThor> There's a rack to hang them on by the stables. It's a common enough problem.
  19. [21:37] <Earthflame> In proper form, he marches with due dignity, head held high... Representing his family at times like this, putting forward a good face was important. And given that he wasn't the most socially adept son of his house, he had to do the best he could. Strength and military discipline was almost as good as courtly language amongst some of the Krzymoszan nobility.
  20. 01[21:38] <SpaceThor> At the far end of the hallway, the throne sits, where the Lady and her duke-consort sit. Standing to the side is your cousin, Jolanta. You haven't seen her in years, since she came to Zienie to learn how to be a courtly lady.
  21. 01[21:39] <SpaceThor> The crier speaks up as you step in. "Sir Jacek Skorupa, Knight of Krzymosze, has arrived."
  22. [21:41] <Earthflame> Likely as different as he had become... Although he wasn't particularly tall he had the strong, stocky build of a man used to hard work, his armour well polished but dented and nicked enough to show its use. His deep bow is stiff but acceptable, more of a military gesture than a social one, but it was what he knew. "I am here as commanded, my Duchess."
  23. [21:47] <Feldi> The Duchess Bianka Milewski smiles at the Hussar from her seated position. With a scattering of grey hairs and the beginnings of wrinkles on her face, the Duchess is the picture of a woman aging gracefully in the lap of luxury. She wears a dark blue dress with lines of golden shapes criss-crossing over the fabric, the stitchwork delicate and precise. "Sir Jacek. You are as prompt as...
  24. [21:47] <Feldi> ...always." She says warmly.
  25. [21:48] <Earthflame> He rises slowly, keeping control of his movements. "To do any less would be a failure in my duty to you, my Lady."
  26. [21:51] <Feldi> "Still," she replies, with a wave of her hand and a quirk of her lip, "you should know it is appreciated." She leans forward on her grand oak chair, resting an elbow on an arm carved to look like an owlbear's paw. "I trust your ride was without trouble?"
  27. [21:52] <Earthflame> "Aside from a short delay at the gate, My Lady, no great trouble at all... Is something amiss, however, such that you have need of such greater vigilance?"
  28. [21:56] <Feldi> "These are delicate times, Sir Jacek. It behooves us to protect our own as much as we can. Do you not agree?"
  29. [21:57] <Earthflame> "You know far better than me in these matters, my lady." He bows his head in deference again.
  30. [22:01] <Feldi> She simply nods at his gesture, eyes shifting to the lady waiting to the side. "It has been several years since you last laid eyes on Sir Jacek, Jolanta. Do not let me stop you from greeting your cousin."
  31. [22:02] <Earthflame> He nods, before turning to bow to her in turn, before looking up at her with a warmer smile. "Jolanta. It is a pleasure to see you again."
  32. 01[22:04] <SpaceThor> She bows back. "And you, cousin. Are you well?" She's pretty. No mythical beauty, but someone men would desire to have as their own.
  33. [22:05] <Earthflame> "Better than ever, and very proud to bear the banner of both our house and our liege." His grin grows, a slightly impetuous hint coming through. "And I believe my best is still yet to come."
  34. 01[22:06] <SpaceThor> She laughs. "I hope to see that."
  35. [22:06] <Feldi> The duchess exchanges an amused look with her consort as they listen in.
  36. [22:08] <Earthflame> "Gods willing, I will be able to share my triumph with all our kin, a dozen dozen times!" He pauses, actively bringing himself down. "We all do our best, for house and lord, after all."
  37. 01[22:08] <SpaceThor> "That's right. I think that was what our Lady Duchess called you for, actually."
  38. [22:09] <Earthflame> "Ah?" He pauses, returning his gaze. "How may I be of service?"
  39. [22:14] <Feldi> "Just as you once completed your training, Sir Jacek, and set out into the world to prove yourself, your cousin is ready to become part of the greater world, having taken all we had to teach her gladly into her heart." She smiles warmly at the girl, before turning back to Sir Jacek. "I would charge you to be her guard on the road to her future husband, Sir Jacek. So that the glory of both...
  40. [22:14] <Feldi> ...our houses can be elevated."
  41. [22:15] <Earthflame> He bows again. "I swear it shall be done, my lady, upon my name and honour." After that, he looks back up at Jolanta. "And congratulations, Cousin. I hope he is a man deserving of your wit and beauty."
  42. 01[22:15] <SpaceThor> "I can hope so too, but duty is duty nonetheless." The smile stays on her face.
  43. [22:16] <Earthflame> He nods, returning to the Duchess. "When shall we depart, my lady?"
  44. [22:17] <Feldi> "You may have half the week to make preparations and reconnect with your cousin, Sir Jacek, but the sooner you depart, the sooner your cousin can be wedded. There is no point in delaying such a joy is there?"
  45. [22:19] <Earthflame> "Indeed not, my lady. We will make our preparations swift as is reasonable."
  46. 01[22:19] <SpaceThor> "Shall we go to the garden then, cousin? It's lovely this time of year."
  47. [22:20] <Earthflame> "It would be my pleasure." Before leaving, he offers another bow to the Duchess, then offers his arm to escort Jolanta out.
  48. 01[22:20] <SpaceThor> She takes your arm, leading you to the garden.
  49. [22:21] <Feldi> The Duchess smiles after them, before turning to engage in whispered conversation with her consort...
  50. 01[22:23] <SpaceThor> Korneliusz looks to his wife. "There's that piece moved, my lady. What is next?"
  51. [22:27] <Feldi> "Next we move our less savory forces to make sure that no other player in the game has a chance to take our piece, and to remind those petty merchants of our hospitality and the safety of our roads."
  52. 01[22:28] <SpaceThor> "I'll see to it that the Checkered Company gets moving orders at the end of the week."
  53. [22:30] <Feldi> The Duchess settles back into the seat of her power, folding her hands together as she looks out the window toward the garden. "The garden really is wonderful this time of year."
  54. 01[22:30] <SpaceThor> "Shall we join the young ones, my lady?"
  55. [22:33] <Feldi> She offers her hand to her partner. "We shall. At a respectful distance."
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