(1866-10-14) A Red Knight and A Green
A Red Knight and A Green
Summary: Sir Gabriel al'Callenta, called The Red Knight, newly betrothed to Duchess Evae Arkanin, arrives upon her lands and is met at the border by Baroness Gisela Quinn.
Date: Octobre 14th, 1866
Related: Everything to do with the Arkanin-d'Armaz Contention.
NPCs: {$npc}
Players:
Gabriel  Gisela  

The border between Wayston and Four Corners
See set.
Octobre 14th, 1866

All this morning a light rain, hardly more than a mist, has been trickling down out of a pallid grey sky onto the uneven terrain where the Duchy of Wayston meets the lands ruled from the city-state of Four Corners, and where one party of riders is expecting to meet another. Thin grass gleams at either side of a road turning slowly from dust to mud. The scent of wet horse is in the air. Rivulets of water seek any opportunity to run off helms and hats and down the backs of their wearers' necks, just to add to the depressing nature of the occasion and subject men who have been riding hard for three days in equally indifferent weather to yet another minor discomfort.

At one side of the road is a boundary stone, marking the beginning of House Arkanin's territory. The moongazers which have flown frantically to and fro in recent days bore, among other details of today's arrangements, the suggestion that Sir Gabriel al'Callenta perhaps not bring his own soldiers past that point, in what would at least on paper constitute another northern invasion of a duchy already at war. But, as he and his honour guard approach, a group of perhaps twenty men riding fine Garaili warhorses emerges from a stand of dripping-wet trees on a rise slightly to the south.

They make their unhurried way down to meet the new arrivals. A somewhat sodden wolf banner rises to the rear of their party after a moment's delay in sorting it out, in case there was any doubt that they're the people the scion of al'Callenta is here to meet. They're all well-armoured and accoutered, naturally, and the presence of several knights can be surmised amongst their numbers — the figure in their midst, probably the one in charge, is attired in handsome brigandine armour of a green so dark it could be taken for black, and mounted upon a magnificent black-pointed bay courser — in short, they constitute a suitably honourable escort for their future Duke.

Riding down to meet the knights of House Arkanin is a small group of al'Callenta knights, five altogether. Armed and armored rather finely in full plate the five knights meet the Wayston knights and pull thier horses to a stop in the miserable weather. The figure riding in the center of the group offers a polite nod to the leader of the Arkanin group that has assembled to greet them. Clad in practical and well made plate mail his weapons while sheathed look to be made of lightsilver, a dagger and a broadsword both placed within easy reach on his belt. The horse he rides is fine beast, a breed of Partharian warhorse that would be quite the rare sight here. The animal is calm as is his rider and the al'Callenta riders move to meet the Arkanin ones intending to leave thier charge with the new escort. From behind the visor of his helmet Gabriel peers at the Arkanin men a moment before he lifts the visor to greet them. "Well met to you." His tone is one of polite courtesy and he sits tall on his horse posessing obvious skill in riding and handling the animal. The riders settle two on either side of him waiting. The al'Callenta lord shifts on his saddle adjusting his arms a bit so the lengths of yellow and green cloth secured about his left arm much like a tourney favor are perfectly visible to the Arkanin party. The colors are bright and visible even in the gloom and thier damp state.

His welcoming committee is supposed to be sporting a similar favour, in the blue and white of House al'Callenta, another proof that this is the correct meeting and the Duke-to-be hasn't stumbled into an ambush: but Baroness Quinn just couldn't quite bring herself to wear it. Thus those northern colours flutter from the end of a spear carried by one of her men, whilst she, recognising on that young man's arm the Arkanin yellow and green which will be his own soon enough, comes forward from behind her escort's screen, guiding her bay courser without the need of a hand on the reins.

She lifts her own visor, revealing the unusual sight (in Wayston at any rate) of a woman's face above brigandine armour and a warhorse, and as she comes nearer calls in a low, clear voice: "Sir Gabriel. Good morning. My name is Gisela Quinn, Baroness of Ghost Hills. I am charged by Evae Arkanin, by the grace of the One head of House Arkanin and Duchess of Wayston, with welcoming you to her lands and ensuring your untroubled passage to her side."

(to be continued)

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