Pendar - Session 16.3

48 Merrysest, Watersday -
The next morning, Max finds himself with finally free time to look around town and seek his own goals...

Maximilian: "(Ah, such fauna!)"
Maximilian steps towards a familiar building.
Maximilian approaches the front door, brimming with anticipation, and knocks.
Maximilian: "E-Excuse me?"
An old human woman even shorter than Max opens the door, smiles at him, and gestures for him to move inside.
Maximilian steps inside, relief and familiarity sweeping over him.
Maximilian: "Oh, glory be, it is! Ivanda's shrine is such a welcome sight. Thank you, madam."
She seats herself on the floor, and begins plucking a small harp, the light sound bouncing cleanly off the walls as she speaks.
Elderly Cleric: "You are welcome here, of course, Sir Knight. Is there anything you seek?"
Maximilian: "A chance to see my brothers and sisters of the faith, I suppose."
"You see, to truly champion her name, I feel I need to acquire appropriate heraldry as her knight. But as a servant of Ivanda, I feel it would be most beautiful to wear the different colours and designs of her very people."
Elderly Cleric: "What a wonderful thought. So you seek an artist, do you?"
Maximilian nods, smiling.
Elderly Cleric looks over toward the assembly of handicrafts set on the altar, setting down the harp to pause in thought.
Elderly Cleric: "Mason would handle such work well. He's a good lad, has a gift with colors. I can speak to him of it, or you can come again. I've no say in who spends their time here and when."
Maximilian: "As is natural. I suppose it would help for you to drop him a message, though I should be visiting here regularly enough while I stay in Iranri."
"I should say, the decorations would sit on barding for a Gryphon."
Elderly Cleric: "A gryphon, you say...? Isn't that something. I've rarely heard of a tame one."
Maximilian: "She... lost her young to a flock of owlbeasts. I fought alongside her to avenge it."
Elderly Cleric: "Tragic, and brave of you. I imagine you would be able to trade the story, as I suspect telling them yourself is not your forte."
Maximilian: "I dabble in poems, at times. But alas, my tongue lacks the silver of a good bard."
Elderly Cleric: "Perhaps with practice. There are certainly those who could offer advice."
Maximilian strengthens his smile.
Maximilian: "Thank you for your kind words."
Elderly Cleric: "You are welcome, but words are of course to be freely offered to all. They cost me little enough."
"I must ask. Do you have any design already, for this gryphon's barding of yours?"
Maximilian: "That was why I came here first, actually. I felt there was no better place to start on such a matter."
"If we are in to serve in tandem, then I would love no more to do it proudly presenting the arts of Her following."
Elderly Cleric: "Now that's a rare quality, to wish to display the work of others. Would that it were more common. I'm sure Mason or the others will be glad to help you."
Maximilian: "Haha, perhaps it is a blessing that my talents lie differently."
"If anyone is in need of a strong arm, do let me know."
Elderly Cleric: "Gladly I shall. If nothing else I could use a young lad like you to help attend to the roof of this place, I can't manage it as I used to."
"I can't recall, have you given me your name?"
Maximilian: "Ah! Forgive my manners, I lost myself in excitement. Maximilian. Maximilian Magnus."
"Some labour might be heavy on the shoulders, but it would lighten my spirits. I'd love to help you."
Elderly Cleric: "Thank you greatly, Sir Maximilian. The others all call me Grandma Talulah, you're welcome to as well."
Maximilian: "Grandma Talulah. Tis a pleasure to see such care taken to decorate this place. I look forward to seeing Mason and the others."
As the two speak, someone pushes past Max to hide inside and huddle against the wall, crying softly.
Maximilian: "Ah!"
Maximilian nearly staggers in surprise, turning to see the new arrival.
Elderly Cleric: "Sani? What happened?"
Maximilian: "Is there something we can do?"
Half-Elf Minstrel: "Apparently it's a crime in Iranri to have any joy now! I hardly said a word bad, it's the same song the others have passed around..."
"(...Those strutting peacocks of knights.)"
Maximilian: "Tch, did someone heckle... oh, I remember this... Calemna's knights?"
Half-Elf Minstrel: "Yes..."
Maximilian leans forward.
Elderly Cleric: "Some of those lot have been a tad too enthusiastic in their 'purging'. We've never seen the jails so full."
Maximilian: "Please, tell me more about them. I've been looking forward to championing Ivanda."
Elderly Cleric: "Their order goes back more than a century, but ever since the duke decided to sponsor them, they've grown more... enthusiastic, as I've said."
Maximilian: "Hm, throwing their weight around and doing as they please?"
Elderly Cleric: "That's it exactly. The other day they spent accosting a street performer for dressing too lightly."
Maximilian: "Disgusting."
"...Sani, was it? Do you remember what the knight looked like?"
"Perhaps I should challenge him, and put him in his place."
Half-Elf Minstrel: "Big. Dark hair. The kind of face that makes a man expect too much."
Elderly Cleric frowns suddenly in thought.
Maximilian rubs his chin.
Elderly Cleric: "Sani, why weren't you in the keep? Shouldn't you be there, with the prince visiting?"
Maximilian perks up upon hearing of the prince.
Half-Elf Minstrel: "The duke's son kept asking for that horrible old nursery song of the little girl being ripped up by wolves. I needed to go someplace cheerful after that."
Maximilian grimaces.
Half-Elf Minstrel: "Why do humans tell their children these frightful things? The world is scary already."
Maximilian: "It is. What I have encountered merely on the path from Auna to here has been grim enough."
Elderly Cleric: "I worry for that lad. All the friends he has never seem to brighten his spirit "
Maximilian: "Are we talking about the prince or the duke's son, here?"
Elderly Cleric: "The duke's son. I've met the boy occasionally, he steals away to the town to play. Solemn little child. It's not right for his age."
Half-Elf Minstrel curls up, burying her face against her knees.
Half-Elf Minstrel: "Skyler's creepy. I don't want to talk about him."
Maximilian: "Sounds interesting to me. I wonder what ails him..."
Elderly Cleric: "Likely the same as ails so many noble children. Too much responsibility and not enough clean work."
Maximilian: "Especially not with the coronation looming."
"There are people out there who will attack or kidnap the children of nobles to influence it."
Half-Elf Minstrel: "That's horrible!"
"Skyler's creepy but I can't imagine anyone really hurting a little boy!"
Maximilian: "And yet, it already nearly happened to a girl not so far from here. I've been chasing the trail of disreputable scoundrels this way, in fact."
Elderly Cleric: "What scoundrels would these be?"
Maximilian: "I'm not sure. We know they were co-ordinating through a map, and are trying to have the princess win the crown.
They were actively hiring people people to capture this particular girl. It was a group of twenty or so attempting it, so it was quite serious indeed."
Half-Elf Minstrel: "Scary... I don't care about the coronation, I just want it to be over already."
Elderly Cleric: "Perhaps then the knights will be less high-strung, as well."
Half-Elf Minstrel: "I hate them anyway..."
Maximilian: "Well, it would certainly be fun to challenge one, then."
"I was speaking to grandma Talulah about arranging heraldry as a knight of Ivanda. It would be glorious to triumph in her colours."
Half-Elf Minstrel: "Ha! Then you could look fancier than them, too! Show 'em who's boss~"
"(You don't make a bad peacock already.)"
Maximilian blushes lightly.
Maximilian: "Just wait until you see my steed."
"Though... I think it would be a bit unsporting to bring a gryphon to a joust."
Half-Elf Minstrel looks up and grins a little maliciously.
Half-Elf Minstrel: "Aww, but think of their faces."
Maximilian: "Perhaps I should stride up to them, dismount, then climb upon a regular horse."
"Just to let them know that I'm handicapping myself to keep things fair."
Half-Elf Minstrel: "That's the way to do it, yeah."
Elderly Cleric: "Sani, it's not revenge that will help. That sort will only push back the harder for it."
Maximilian: "Hm, true."
"On the other hand, I do think a victory would provide a little rally for the minstrels and followers of Iranri."
Half-Elf Minstrel: "They need a lesson, Grandma Talulah. Prancing around like that. Someone needs to show them. They only get away with it because everyone's scared."
Maximilian: "I would like to do this. But I do think Grandma is right. If I do this, it is to lift peoples' spirits. I shouldn't overdo it."
Elderly Cleric: "There's a good lad. I suppose I can't say I haven't wondered if a show of force was needed."
Maximilian: "Like it or not, it's the Atletan way."
Elderly Cleric: "That it is. I had hoped it was changing, but so it still is for now."
Maximilian: "Then let us pray the prince is crowned when this is over."
Half-Elf Minstrel: "I can help you find that knight."
Maximilian: "It would be much appreciated."
Elderly Cleric: "May Ivanda move their hearts through you, youngsters. Sani, do tell me how it goes."
Half-Elf Minstrel: "I will! Come on!"
Half-Elf Minstrel jumps up and runs to the door, pausing outside.
Maximilian: "Thank you, grandma!"
Maximilian hops up, following the minstrel.
Half-Elf Minstrel points toward the road, due south of the small temple.
Half-Elf Minstrel: "(That's him, there.)"
Maximilian: "(Oh, that was quick. Understood.)"
Half-Elf Minstrel: "(They must not really be on duty...)"
Maximilian takes a deep breath, steadying himself, and pumps his chest.
The three knights, all in matching red uniforms, stand casually in the road, the man speaking loudly and gesturing to the other two.
Maximilian strides on, looking up at his new foe.
Proud Knight: "...so I walked up to the beggar, and looked at him just so, and I didn't even have to say a word before he went scurrying like a little mouse!"
Maximilian tries to hold back disgust at the tale.
Maximilian: "Say... you there, black haired knight!"
Proud Knight: "Oh, hello, little man. What is it?"
Curt Knight: "Forgive my comrade. Is there aught amiss?"
Maximilian: "I have it that this man has taken it upon himself to judge which bard does and doesn't have the right to sing."
Proud Knight: "They all have the right, although a few shouldn't bother trying."
Maximilian: "It is not a knight's duty to silence those that they don't like."
Curt Knight: "There are certain standards on what should be sung of. The princess's anatomy is not an appropriate subject of entertainment."
Maximilian pauses, in thought, for a moment.
Proud Knight: "What's it to you, little man?"
Maximilian: "My point is, as a knight of Ivanda, I will not have you use your authority to intimidate our musicians."
Proud Knight: "I can't help it if they're afraid of me. You wouldn't understand that, would you?"
Curt Knight: "Lorreal. Mind your tongue. You disgrace us."
Novice Knight: "I don't think... never mind."
Maximilian: "I-It wouldn't be right to inspire fear."
"...but, perhaps, I should make an exception, this once."
Proud Knight bursts out laughing.
Proud Knight: "Go on, then. Terrify us."
Maximilian: "Very well!"
Maximilian clears his throat.
Maximilian: "I, Maximilian Magnus, would settle my grievance by way of honor. How confident are you on horseback?"
Proud Knight: "More than confident I can best you! I, Lord Kemrec Lorreal, would meet you in the field, noon of tomorrow."
"Horseback it shall be, you need whatever advantage you can claim."
Maximilian lets out a breath of relief.
Maximilian: "Tomorrow, noon, on horseback it is! You shall see the determination of our people then."
Curt Knight: "You'd better not get too bruised for the evening patrol."
Proud Knight: "Keep bragging, little man. It'll be all the sweeter when your lady friend watches me grind your face in the dirt."
Maximilian: "Confident I may be, I'm not the only one high on it. You should heed her advice. Until then."
Half-Elf Minstrel: "Big words! Sir Maximilian will teach you better than to complain about my singing!"
Proud Knight: "I do hope I don't cripple you. We have more than enough of those."
Maximilian glares at the knight.
Maximilian: "That is one step too far. Now I really won't hold back tomorrow."
"The disabled are not to be mocked. Perhaps if you didn't spend so much time intimidating the populace, you could learn to appreciate them."
Proud Knight: "This whelp is befouling the air. I'll see you tomorrow, whelp."
Maximilian watches the man turn away, trembling.
Proud Knight: "Next he'll tell me not to step on the pretty flowers. Alandra, come on."
Curt Knight: "I am sorry for him. Know that not all of our number are lacking in manners, Sir Magnus."
Maximilian: "I pray so. Not all speak so sourly about your numbers."
As the three knights leave, Max is left to contemplate what the result of his confrontation will be...