Bronze Griffons & the Purple Rose
It's Tariday, Eatonis 07 21:48:43 1019. The full moon isn't up. The tide is high and ebbing. Light rain falls from a grey-black sky without moon or stars. It's chilly and there's a fresh wind from the east.
Roleplay Nexus: Rune
Now that Rune is in the vicinity of Alexandria, not only is there a surplus of wizards in the Lord City, but many intrepid Alexandrians are taking the chance to experience the wonder that is Rune.
Ga'Elian is coming in for a landing in one of Rune's commercial plazas, looking at his surroundings. His griffon skrees.
In the distance there's a glint of bronze. It grows larger and larger until it resolves into another griffon, only this one is clearly made of bronze. The construct skids to a stop long enough for Duncan to slide off of its back, then it takes off and flies off, quickly disappearing into the clouds. Duncan twists back and forth at the waist, easing the muscles in his back, then looks around. "Can't believe that worked," he comments.
Ga'Elian watches in utter amazement, as if the bronze griffon is far more unusual than any of the wierd things in this magical place. When the bronze beast departs, the elf dismounts his own steed, who flies off as well. The elf says, "That's quite a remarkable mount you have there, friend."
Duncan chuckles good-naturedly. "Not mine," he corrects gently. "A cousin's. A distant cousin," he admits after a bit. "For a while he didn't think he had any more kin left." Duncan considers that and then adds, "Neither did I. He's been spending the last few weeks following Rune around and just bumped into me again in Alexandria."
Ga'Elian says, "Impressive. Your cousin is one of those artifice types, then?"
Duncan blinks. "No, not really. He's a knight, like me. Sort of. Or like I used to be. A knight of the Purple Rose." He touches an intricate clasp that he wears, fashioned to look like a rose, with his fingertips. "He's an expert rider, of well, anything." Duncan's gaze runs over the nearby feather-and-blood griffin.
Ga'Elian nods his acknowledgement, but without any real comprehension. He says, "Sounds quite impressive, but I'm afraid I don't really know much about such things. In the wild, we do see knights crossing the land from time to time, but all the symbols and customs of knighthood are alien to my culture. You see, we're tribal. Still, I know the Llyranesi have their different Houses. Perhaps your knights are sort of like that?"
Duncan snorts. "I suppose 'Knighthood' differs enough across lands as well. In some places Knights are born into an order, in others they join after proving themselves worthy. Some orders require nothing but calling yourself a knight." He shakes his head.
Ga'Elian nods. "So what of this Purple Rose? What sort is it?"
Duncan says, "An order with no specific goals or patrons, that I know of." Duncan shrugs. "Beyond their skill at mounted combat I doubt they share much in common."
Ga'Elian smiles. "I see. Well, as for skill at mounted combat, I must say I rather like having Erithamiel with me. Once, in the war with the Dranei, he bore me aloft against a squadron of rocs. I was able to take down a couple of the gargantuan birds with my arrows."
Duncan purses his lips and emits a low whistle. "Impressive. I saw some of those creatures from afar, from the ground. They look fierce and strong." He peers across the skyline, as if he expects to see one winging at them that very moment. "I suppose a bow is the only way to bring one down."
Ga'Elian shrugs, "Oh, I imagine a wizard's got enough firepower to fell such a beast. Frankly, an arrow is pretty small for a job like that, but even a small arrow hitting just the right spot can cause the bird to lose control of its flight. I think the ones I shot down might have recovered from their impacts and my arrows had it not been for getting themselves impaled upon the tops of pointy towers."
Duncan stares for a moment, then explodes in laughter. "Yes, I can see how that might cause them some inconvenience." He sighs and then peers this way and that. "Well as much as I'm enjoying this conversation, I had best get on with my business. Good evening, ranger."
Ga'Elian waves. "Farewell." He blows his horn to call the griffon back.